Would you turn down $11 million dollars?
Dr. Ryuta Kawashima has – he’s the “brains” behind the incredibly popular Brain Age games for the portable Nintendo DS system. If you’ve ever played these addictive puzzlers, you’ve seen a digital version of the bespectacled professor, who guides you through the various mental exercises designed to sharpen your brain.
Dr. Ryuta Kawashima has – he’s the "brains" behind the incredibly popular Brain Age games for the portable Nintendo DS system. If you’ve ever played these addictive puzzlers, you’ve seen a digital version of the bespectacled professor, who guides you through the various mental exercises designed to sharpen your brain.
"Not a single yen has gone in my pocket," asserts Dr. Kawashima in a recent interview with Agence France-Presse.
The terms of his agreement with his employer, Japan’s Tohoku University, state Kawashima could take half of the $22 million royalties, with the school receiving the other half. But Kawashima typically uses royalties from his work to fund more research.
"My hobby is work," Kawashima said. "Everyone in my family is mad at me but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it."
What would YOU do?
Sounds like he took the money and used it for his research. Tough choice, I'd have to say, but he's employed by the university, so…he ain't a poor guy. The university would probably pay him some exorbant amount of money just to stay with the university for the publicity, he's an asset they'd definitely want to keep. So, instead of using that money to…you know, get the kind of happiness that money gets you, he probably figured that he'd use that money for his research, and let the university take care of his other expenses. Not a bad move, I must say.
By telling his family to go out and earn it, this man might be doing these people more good. You can easily waste the sudden money you get free and things can go downhill… Maybe he doesn't want to take away from his loved ones the opportunity to earn what they have…the chance to make it alone… the joy to succeed… He must believe that hard work builds character…. Maybe he just said that his family is mad to make them look…normal but they might be supportive and as special and he is… Anywho, Dr.K is an extra ordinary guy; let's give him extra respect for having done what most of us would not do. And we should not be unkind with words just because we are not capable of such generosity and altruism.
"Life is not about having it made, it's getting it made…"
"You give to yourself first when you give to others…"
"Pick a good cause or something you are passionate about, pursue it…"
Way to go, Dr. K!
Re : What Huncher above mentioned about playing the game for two days and getting bored.
HELLO!!! It is not a "game"…yes it is played on a game system, but is not a game. It is meant to be far more than that. Brain age is a series of repetative tasks that force your brain to work overtime in ways it does not normally, therefore strengthening those parts of the grey matter that usually get abused. If you want a game, try Super Mario…You may understand the principles of that title.
As for the Dr himself, if his work makes him happy, good for him, it makes me glad to see people like him or Bill Gates ( yes for those like Muklukjo who dont realise that Bill gives vast amount away to charity each year plus also supports his own!) use their money for the good of others, unlike some who rake it in, look down on others who have far less, and then make themselves feel far superior for their abilities. Its called "free choice" brothers and sisters…Be glad in this day and age we still have that!
I started a social network based on face recognition technology. I am trying to find my twin at ilooklikeyou.com. You can find your look-alike there and it is free to sign up. SO I am working for my money. I am sure it would be easy if it were free but not much fun.
Have a look and see if I Look Like You.
Wayne
Well, He's probally at more than average level of living at where he is, & now he needs to follow Bill Gates's foot steps.
Well I can not judge him for his own personal decission, I am sure in his mind it was the correct thing to do.
However as a struggling low income post student who has to bite his nails every bill that comes through the door. A person who has a degree but lives in a city that has too few jobs that dont pay enough. A person who then pays the Rip off Government a huge chunck of his money that he can not afford to pay, I struggle with his decision.
Food for Thought:
If I had recieved $80,000 of that 11 million (only 1% approx)that would have clear all my debts issues.
I pay $2500/month now because of Loans and without my loans would only have $1500/month of bills
So as you can see with only 1% of what he just tossed I could have gone from stomach sickening, stress ridden, bill crunching, 3 overtime jobs, no life, hurt person to a normal one job, regular bill paying, normal stress man that could put time into family, his wife and possible his musical hobby.
Furthermore I am sure I am not the only one with student caused money issues so I believe that he could have drastically changed at least 100's of peoples lives if he chose to do so OR invested it could have helped countless people.
So although I dont judge his decision, knowing that that tossed money could have helped so many I can not condone it either.
He could have helped many with minimal efforts
-James of Thunder Bay Ontario
Good for him. I like that he told his family to get out there and use their brains to get work and earn their own way. I am sure he supports his wife and family in the nessicities of life. Food, clothes, home, education etc. Anything else they should earn.
What an idiot, take the money. If my face was on a video game I would demand at least half. I don't understand why he would not. $11 million dollars would change anyone's life.
I'd take half. Like 5-6 million or something. I'm not above greed like this awesome guy. I'd wanna be a millionaire. But I like the idea about funding more research. That's where the other half would go, I'd like to think.
I tell you people out there, Japanese might be smart but at the same time they're the weirdest breed I've ever known!
He told you all, most of the men workers in Japan, if they're lucky, they get only less than 4 hours of sleep.
Why? Because they're hobby is to work for life! They have nothing outside of that.
To me, I think a man who's able to earn that amount of money and having wife and kids, should be in someplace exotic, rather than tell them to go out and earn?
He's weird!
the guys an idiot.
Comments here just shows all of us how Money ang greed makes this world go round. I wonder if you were given a choice to either 11 million dollas or cure cancer, Which one would you chose?
That's a pretty selfish thing to do. He says his work is his hobby and he's spending it all on that. If you got $11 million would you spend it all on your hobbies or would you treat your family and friends a little, maybe invest some to ensure they don't fall on hard times?
I'm impressed. Not everybody has the stomach to turn down millions of dollars. The Guys is an excentric, optimistic and creative. Good for him. I just hope he or his family won't need the money in few years and feel bad about it.
hmmm. interesting article…but this ones more interesting!!!
http://www.myspace.com/thesiatic
Hey Hamad !
Chill out little middle east dude. ( or some association )
I will give you all a scenario and see if Mr Gamer fits in.
it.
My friend has a well established Web Building firm already taking on huge corporate customers. But he was just 14 when he signed his first a few years back and money meant nothing to him.
He has since taken a scholarship ( free ) while his company continues to grow. But the best part is his skill and how sought after his has become.
By not jumping earlier he is now being courted by god knows how many Tech outfits around the globe and is pretty much set for life when he comes out.
This Japanese fellow is no different. It's not the easy prize right now but wait for the mother load.
Smart like a Fox.
Most of you people are praising this man unduely. I live in Japan, and I can tell you what kind of person he is. He lives for work. His hobby is work, he said that himself. He does not care about money, or anything else, just work. What does this mean, that he is a selfless person? No, not at all. He neglects his family, his children, his "friends" (if he has any), for work. I bet he hardly knows his wife, and doesn't really know who his children are. All he knows is work.
In Japan, there are many, many problems arising from such people. The family unit is breaking down. Children don't know their fathers. Children lack discipline in thier lives and act badly. They don't study as much as they should. They don't treat people well. Wives don't know their husbands. There is no love in thier marriages. Divorce is increasing.
This type of man is not good. He has no balance in his life.
More of us seem to be degrading this man for not taking the money and "helping" those less fortunate. RTH, Japan is sounding like the rest of th eworld.
Who cares if that's what he does with his money? He's using this money to help other people. Not by being a philanthropist, but by helping people help themselves. Sure, it might not be in conventional ways, but look at this. Does the Heart and Stroke Foundation give money to people with heart disease? No, they fund it into their research. Not the same, but pretty close. I'm sure his family is already well taken care of.
Thought there was potential to make money instead I found potential to spend money.People are just out there.Say what you mean,you want me to subscribe ask me don't hide behind a phoney offer.
Just wasting peoples time.How do you live with yourself honestly!
K, some of the comments here are just a touch unreasonable. As someone who is just starting a career in research, I have personally considered what I'd do if I received a large sum of money (e.g. won a lottery), and guess what my response was… I'd set up my own lab and sponsor my own research. Conducting research is expensive and getting funding is highly competitive. But it is through research that we have much of what we have and it is through research that we are finding alternatives to many of our negative impacts on the world.
To those of you complaining that you're broke and how much that money would help you, get over it, and as Dr. RK would say, go earn the money yourself. Yes, life is hard and you don't always get what you want, but that's life, period. Stop whining and make what you will of your own life.
Ultimately, Dr. RK can do what he likes with his money and if his intention is to conduct more research into studying how the brain works, I'm all for that!