Profile
Kota OTANI / Ryoichi WATANABE / Nozomi YAMAMOTO / Ryuta KUWAMIZU
Kota OTANI (M.A.)
I am a researcher at the Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba and a full-time instructor at Hijirigaoka Child Care Professional School.
After completing my graduate studies at Kyoto University, I worked as a high school English teacher, a special-needs schoolteacher, and an elementary schoolteacher before assuming my current position. My goal is to bridge the gap between educational practice and fundamental research.
You can find more details about me here:
https://researchmap.jp/kota_psycho_
Ryoichi WATANABE (Ph.D.)
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University.
I research the development of qualia (instances of perceived subjective experience) and consciousness. Since childhood, I have been thinking about subjective questions such as, "What am I?", "What does it mean to be alive?", and "What is the world?". I want to share with you the world that children see and feel. Thank you for your support!
You can find more details about me here: https://researchmap.jp/wtnbr
Nozomi YAMAMOTO (Ph. D.)
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University.
My research interests lie in the development of emotions, cognition, and behavior during social interactions with others. I aim to reveal the inner world of children by combining the expertise of our team members, including the use of physiological indicators like pupillometry.
You can find more details about me here: https://sites.google.com/view/nozomi-yamamoto/
Ryuta KUWAMIZU (Ph.D.)
I am an assistant professor at the Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba.
I have been studying the mechanisms behind the enhancement of executive functions through physical exercise, using neuroimaging and pupilillometry. Recently, I have also been researching cognitive and behavioral development in young children and have developed a new interest in the study of consciousness.
You can find more details about me here: https://researchmap.jp/kuwamizu_ryuta?lang=en
What We Aim to Achieve
"Is there a world that only children can experience?"
"Through your eyes as a young child, how did the world appear, and what were you thinking?"
Although we have all been children, somehow over time we forget the sensations we experienced when we were young. We often find ourselves puzzled by the words and actions of the children right in front of us—talking to a stuffed animal alone, being terrified of something ordinary, or becoming engrossed in a simple question.
Our team of four aims to uncover what children are feeling and thinking—in other words, their "inner world."
Until now, most research on children has focused on objective phenomena that adults can recognize and on behaviors expressed externally. However, the thoughts, feelings, and consciousness within a child may possess a richness that far surpasses adult imagination. These could be connected to strange memories from our own childhoods or the curious behaviors of the children we see today.
Our project signifies a pioneering step into a domain previously unexplored by science: the developmental origins of the inner world. Furthermore, it holds the promise of a future where children's full potential is realized and where adults can re-experience their own childhood. Just as children's behaviors offer many clues to adult behaviors, exploring the inner worlds of children may hold the key to transforming our own worldviews.
Our Approach
Currently, there are very few research methods that allow us to explore the inner world of infants and young children, making it an immensely difficult undertaking. To tackle this problem, it is essential not only to establish new behavioral experiment models to visualize and quantify the inner world but also to integrate such models with neurophysiological methods and build a theoretical framework to interpret the results.
We have been conducting research on the inner world of children not only through behavioral experiments but also through neurophysiological approaches, such as measuring pupil size, eye blinks, and brain activity. This is what we have been working on so far.
1.Developing a task to assess inner speech in young children through behavior:
To capture the process of children thinking with words in their minds, we have developed a task to measure "inner speech" through behavioral observation. This research is beginning to show that by the age of five, children have acquired the ability to recite numbers silently in their minds.
2.Measuring physiological responses associated with inner speech in adults:
To investigate the physiological signs of inner speech, we measured changes in the pupil sizes of adults while they silently counted. Our findings indicate that while counting aloud causes pupil dilation, silent counting does not show a significant change in pupil size. We are currently conducting replication experiments. Since pupillometry and eye-blinking are closely related to brain and mental states and can be measured relatively nonintrusively during experiments, we hope this method can be applied in the future as an indicator to predict the state of a child's inner world.
A child's inner world is shrouded in mystery. However, we believe there is profound meaning in attempting to open this "black box" by bringing together researchers from multiple specialized fields, with the support of many people.
Beyond the research on inner speech described above, we aim to propose experimental models that will significantly advance this field by continuously discussing and brainstorming new approaches to study the inner world, without fear of proposing unconventional ideas.
Our Project Goals
In this project, we will specifically address the following four goals:
1.Developing a questionnaire to assess the developmental process of inner speech in young children:
A first step in examining a young child's inner world is simply "asking what they are thinking." However, a standardized method for this has not yet been established. Therefore, we will develop a questionnaire that young children can easily understand and respond to, using a previously established study method: the Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire - Revised (VISQ-R). The new questionnaire will reveal the diversity of children’s inner worlds and their differences from those of adults.
2.Investigating the relationship between "inner speech" and "emotion" in young children:
How do the words in our minds change when emotional arousal is heightened? By applying the behavioral task we have developed, we will investigate whether children's inner speech changes with heightened emotions and if these changes are reflected in their physiological responses and behaviors. We will also examine how inner speech can be influenced by guided manipulation (e.g., by asking children to "act like someone else").
3.Developing physiological indicators to objectively measure inner speech in young children:
We will verify whether the relationship between inner speech and pupil size is also present in young children, and establish a safe, less invasive, and simpler measurement method than what is currently available. By combining this with methods for measuring brain activity using light (e.g., fNIRS), we plan to acquire more reliable and valid data.
4.Sustaining continuous discussion to unravel the inner world:
Comprehensively understanding the inner world of young children is an extremely challenging goal that cannot be achieved quickly. That is why we consider "repeatedly discussing and generating new ideas" as a crucial activity of this project. Leveraging the specialized fields of our four members, we will thoroughly discuss how to more fully reveal the inner world of infants and young children. We will also engage in discussions with various researchers worldwide by presenting our findings at conferences and in academic journals. Furthermore, we will explore research that aims to understand the complete picture of a child's inner world by incorporating various domains beyond inner speech, such as visual imagery.
A Call for Your Support
The "study of the inner world" we are undertaking will not produce results that can be immediately applied in educational settings. However, we firmly believe that the accumulation of solid fundamental research is what leads to reliable educational applications and will create a better future for our children.
That is why, through academist, we hope that everyone involved in the care, education, and physical training of young children, as well as those raising children at home, will follow our research journey and its outcomes. We want to advance this research together with all of you who interact with children daily and wonder, "What are these children thinking?"
Fundamental research on the "inner world" is essential to unlock the full potential of children and to create a future where adults can re-experience the sensations of their own childhood. Your support will become a powerful force in uncovering the brilliance hidden deep within children's minds and in pioneering the future.
Your generous contributions are invaluable. They will be carefully used to recruit child participants, purchase state-of-the-art experimental equipment, cover publication fees to share our findings with the world, and fund presentations at national and international academic conferences. We promise that your support will be a steady step toward revealing the yet-unseen universe of a child's mind and contributing to the future of education and society. We invite you to join us on this adventure into the inner world!
Recommender's comment
Yusuke MORIGUCHI
This is an ambitious project in which promising young researchers take on the challenge of exploring the unexplored territory of a child's inner world—a field often overlooked by developmental science. The pursuit of the origins of this rich inner world, which cannot be fully captured by objective observation alone, will contribute significantly to our understanding of what it means to be human. The outcomes of this research will not only contribute to educational practices but also provide a precious opportunity for adults to rediscover the forgotten sensations of childhood. I wholeheartedly recommend this original research.
Akihiro KAWASAKI
This team of young researchers is passionate about unraveling the "inner world" of children! In clinical practice, subtle cues that are not immediately visible often become the crucial key to providing support. Their ambitious work is an attempt to scientifically grasp the source of these insights. This research will form the foundation for the future of child support. Please give them your support. As a practitioner in the field, I have high hopes for this project.
Jimpei HITSUWARI
My first child, a son, was born this year. Every day I am surprised and comforted from the moment his gaze meets mine to our early interactions through sounds that can hardly be called language. The speed of a baby's development is far beyond what I had heard, and I feel the changes unfolding day by day. That is why I am so drawn to the research theme of this team. I almost wish I could join them myself! It’s not only the perspective that excites me. Having competed and collaborated with them at the same university, I know firsthand that the research abilities of these four are truly solid. I have full confidence that this project will succeed.
Taichi HIRAGA
Through my old friend from our master's program, Dr. Kuwamizu, I was deeply drawn to the pioneering spirit and interdisciplinary approach of this team as they delve into the "inner world of children." One of the keys to unlocking that black box is the eye. While even cutting-edge brain imaging has its limits for practical application, they have made the novel discovery that eye-markers like pupil dilation and eyeblinks can predict brain activity and cognitive enhancement during dynamic physical exercise. This is what "the eyes say more than words" truly means. Will the innocent eyes of a child also reflect their inner world? I'll be keeping a close eye on their future moves.
Shoko IWASAKI
Even in today’s rapidly changing world, children continue to grow with resilience. Across every generation, children have been nurtured by their environment, learning from their surroundings and moving step by step toward the future. From infancy onward, even before they can fully express themselves in words, children feel deeply, think actively, and live each day in connection with others. I sincerely hope that the challenge undertaken by these four researchers will be a new step toward a deeper understanding of children and toward a society that supports them, not just in homes and educational institutions, but as a whole. I look forward with great hope to the progress of this research as a foundation for nurturing the future.
Project timeline
| Date | Plans |
|---|---|
Autumn 2025~ |
Experiment preparation (development of experimental paradigms, recruitment of research participants, etc.) |
September 2025 |
Presentation of current results at the Japanese Psychological Association Annual Convention |
Winter 2025~ |
Carrying out experiments and data collection |
Early 2026 |
Presentation of the team's results at an international conference (e.g., Budapest CEU Conference on Cognitive Development 2026) |
March 2026 |
Presentation of research results at the Japanese Society of Developmental Psychology Annual Conference |
| View more research plans | |
2026年春 |
国際誌に論文投稿 |
2026年夏 |
オンライン・サイエンスカフェにて研究成果の報告 |
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You will receive a personal thank-you message from the four of us. You will also gain access to our exclusive supporters-only page.
Thank-you message & access to supporters-only page (in Japanese)
scheduled date details
| return | scheduled date |
|---|---|
| お礼のメッセージ＆サポーター限定ページ閲覧権 | November, 2025 |
121 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
We will credit you (in your preferred format) in the research report we submit to the academist journal.
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Thank-you message & access to supporters-only page (in Japanese) / Credit in research report
scheduled date details
| return | scheduled date |
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| お礼のメッセージ＆サポーター限定ページ閲覧権 | November, 2025 |
49 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
The four of us will hold an online session to report on the project and exchange ideas. You will receive a priority invitation to this event.
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Thank-you message & access to supporters-only page (in Japanese) / Credit in research report / Invitation to online research report meeting & discussion
scheduled date details
| return | scheduled date |
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| お礼のメッセージ＆サポーター限定ページ閲覧権 | November, 2025 |
| オンライン研究報告＆意見交換会へのご招待 | September, 2026 |
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We will conduct an online seminar (lecture/talk) for you (duration will approximately 1 hour). You can choose one of our four members whose research theme interests you. The content and format can be tailored to your interests.
We will contact you via email to discuss the date and details.
You can choose whether or not to receive this reward.
Thank-you message & access to supporters-only page (in Japanese) / Credit in research report / Online seminar by one researcher / Invitation to online research report meeting & discussion
scheduled date details
| return | scheduled date |
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| お礼のメッセージ＆サポーター限定ページ閲覧権 | November, 2025 |
| オンラインセミナーの実施 | September, 2026 |
| オンライン研究報告＆意見交換会へのご招待 | September, 2026 |
5 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
All four of us will conduct an online seminar (lecture/talk) for you (duration will be approximately 1 hour). The content and format can be tailored to your interests.
We will contact you via email to discuss the date and details.
You can choose whether or not to receive this reward.
Thank-you message & access to supporters-only page (in Japanese) / Credit in research report / Online seminar by all four researchers / Invitation to online research report meeting & discussion
scheduled date details
| return | scheduled date |
|---|---|
| お礼のメッセージ＆サポーター限定ページ閲覧権 | November, 2025 |
| 4人によるオンラインセミナーの実施 | September, 2026 |
| オンライン研究報告＆意見交換会へのご招待 | September, 2026 |
2 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
・We will conduct a seminar (lecture/talk) at a location of your choice (duration will be approximately 1 hour). You can choose one of our four members whose research theme interests you. The content and format can be tailored to your interests.
・Please note that travel expenses (and accommodation costs, if necessary) will be charged separately.
・You can choose whether or not to receive this reward.
Thank-you message & access to supporters-only page (in Japanese) / Credit in research report / Invitation to online research report meeting & discussion / On-site seminar by one researcher
scheduled date details
| return | scheduled date |
|---|---|
| お礼のメッセージ＆サポーター限定ページ閲覧権 | November, 2025 |
| オンライン研究報告＆意見交換会へのご招待 | September, 2026 |
0 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
All four of us will conduct a seminar (lecture/talk) at a location of your choice (duration will be approximately 1 hour). The content and format can be tailored to your interests.
Please note that travel expenses (and accommodation costs, if necessary) will be charged separately.
You can choose whether or not to receive this reward.
Thank-you message & access to supporters-only page (in Japanese) / Credit in research report / Invitation to online research report meeting & discussion / On-site seminar by all four researchers
scheduled date details
| return | scheduled date |
|---|---|
| お礼のメッセージ＆サポーター限定ページ閲覧権 | November, 2025 |
| オンライン研究報告＆意見交換会へのご招待 | September, 2026 |
0 supporters are supporting with this reward. （No quantity limit）
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