WHO WE ARE

Hirahara laboratory is a small yet active research group established in April 2006 at the Department of Intelligent Systems Design Engineering of Toyama Prefectural University. As the laboratory has been focusing on revealing auditory information processing mechanisms, we have been studying variety themes related to sounds. We, however, do not study music itself because we believe music is one of those things that we enjoy.

The auditory system reconstructs information for one's brain to understand what is going on in the environment adequetly and quickly from fragments of sound arrived at ears. Auditory system also reconstructs information for the brain to decode linguistic as well as paraliguistic messages conveyed by speech sound. The laboratory aims at elucidating the auditory information processing mechanisms by integrating acoustic engineering, psychoacoustics and robotics.

A decade and one year
of Hirahara Laboratory

In the early days of the April 2006, the lab was nearly empty. The three initial member, Prof. Hirahara, Dr. Otani and Mr. Shimizu, could use commodious space. Lab furnitures, PCs and acoustic measurement equipment were gradually introduced. By the end of September, the research environment of the lab has much improved. One graduate student joined the lab in Novembner 2006. In March 2007, Mr. Shimizu finished his excellent graduation thesis.

In April 2007, the lab welcomed five undergraduate and one graduate students. In total, seven students are now the member of the lab. The TeleHead-IV, joined the lab in late 2006, has been busy for experiments as well as demonstrations.

At the end of March 2008, six members including Dr. Otani who was one of the initial member of the lab graduated. Six undergraduates have joined the lab in Apri.

At the end of March 2009, we farewelled three members including Mr. Shimizu who was one of the initial menmber of the lab. Mr. Shimizu and Mr. Matsunaga won best student awards from IEICE and ASJ Hokuriku chapter, respectively. Four undergraduates have joined in Apri.

At the end of March 2010, we farewelled three members. Mr. Morikawa was honared as the best student at the Graduate School of the Intelligent Systems Design Engineering. Mr. Kurokawa won best presentation award from IEICE Hokuriku chapter. Five new undergraduates have joined in Apri.

We farewelled five members in March 2011. Mr.Matsunaga and Yoshisaki won the best student awards from ASJ and IEICE Hokuriku chapter. Mr.Matsunaga was also honared as the best student at the Graduate School of the Intelligent Systems Design Engineering. Six new undergraduates have joined in Apri.

At the end of March 2012, we farewelled six members. Mr.Toyoda won the best student award from ASJ Hokuriku chapter. Four motivated undergraduates have joined us in April. Prof. Morisige has establised his own lab.

At the end of March 2013, we farewelled six members. Congratulations! Mr. Daisuke Morikawa got his PhD. Mr.Imai won the best student award from ASJ Hokuriku chapter, Yoshisaki was honared as the best student at the Graduate School of the Intelligent Systems Design Engineering. Four motivated undergraduates have joined us in April.

At the end of March 2014, we farewelled four members. Three motivated undergraduates have joined us in April.

At the end of March 2015, we farewelled four members. Congratulations! Mr. Okada won the best student award from ASJ Hokuriku chapter. Three motivated undergraduates have joined us in April.

At the end of March 2016, we farewelled five members. Congratulations! Mr. Kojima won the best student award from ASJ Hokuriku chapter. Three fresh undergraduates have joined our lab in April.

At the end of March 2017, we farewelled two members.