Extending therapeutic writing through technology, to understand people through their behavior.
2nd Year Ph.D. Student / HCI Researcher
I work in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), with a focus on mental health. Specifically, I study how to extend the experience of therapeutic writing (e.g., expressive writing or reflective journaling; practices for putting stressful experiences and emotions into words) on devices like smartphones and computers. I've incorporated voice input, visual feedback, distance sensing, and AI-assisted phrase suggestions, and analyzed, both quantitatively and qualitatively, how these change the way people narrate their experiences. This work informs not only the design of digital support tools, but also a deeper understanding of how people narrate, situate, and live with their experiences and emotions. Just as we come to know ourselves through others and through language, I believe technology can help us understand people more deeply — and that belief drives my research.
I also believe in "delivering good things, the right way." In that spirit, I'm the owner of Chez Norihama, serving genuinely, shockingly delicious mapo tofu at university festivals and pop-up events.
Latest activities and achievements
Since September 20, 2026, I've been visiting Prof. Tanzeem Choudhury's lab at Cornell Tech for collaborative research and exchange.
Our paper was accepted to ACM IMWUT (Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies) and will be presented at UbiComp '26 in Shanghai, China.
Participated in UBISS 2025 at the University of Oulu, Finland, and received the Distinguished Project Award for the project "My Home, My Rules." It was a valuable experience for international research exchange.
The paper titled "Examining Input Modalities and Visual Feedback Designs in Mobile Expressive Writing" was accepted to MobileHCI 2025. It will be presented at the conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in September 2025.
Started the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, The University of Tokyo, in April 2025. I will continue to deepen my research in Human-Computer Interaction.
Received the Student Encouragement Award for the presentation "Comparative Evaluation of Visual Feedback Designs for Enhancing Stress Relief in Expressive Writing Chatbots" at the 82nd UBI Workshop in May 2024.
Introducing current and past research projects
We conducted a 3-week field study with 47 family caregivers using a LINE chatbot for daily reflective writing. Analyzing how temporal, spatial, and social psychological distance from the care recipient shapes reflection, we identified two distinct writing styles: an expressive, proximal mode and a calm, analytic, distal mode.
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I am researching chat interfaces for expressive writing using smartphones. The goal is to identify factors that enhance stress relief by comparing input methods and visual feedback designs when expressing stressful events and emotions via chat.
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Developed a system that dynamically controls traffic signals at scramble intersections using deep reinforcement learning. Through simulation-based training, the system optimizes traffic flow and demonstrates reduced waiting times and fewer accidents.
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Developed and evaluated a VR system that allows users to experience menstruation from a first-person perspective and understand difficulties through behavioral choices. The project also explored the use of VR sickness as a proxy for dizziness during menstruation, aiming for applications in companies and educational institutions.
View DetailsView femco. SiteAcademic papers, media coverage, blog posts, etc.
To Appear · ACM IMWUT (UbiComp '26)
Two Modes of Reflection: How Temporal, Spatial, and Social Distances Affect Reflective Writing in Family CaregivingA paper examining how psychological distance shapes reflective writing in family caregiving. Accepted to ACM IMWUT, to be presented at UbiComp '26 in Shanghai.
Presented · MobileHCI 2025
Examining Input Modalities and Visual Feedback Designs in Mobile Expressive WritingA paper comparing input modalities and visual feedback designs for expressive writing on mobile devices. Presented at MobileHCI 2025.
Media Coverage · The University of Tokyo Newspaper OnlineJapanese-language content
"Can the Wall Between Humanities and Sciences Be Overcome?"An interview article published in The University of Tokyo Newspaper Online, discussing experiences of switching from humanities to sciences and the learning process.
Note Article · noteJapanese-language content
"The Struggle of Switching from Humanities to STEM at UTokyo"An article describing the experience of entering the University of Tokyo as a humanities student and switching to science. It details the process and learning involved in the transition.
Serious Mapo Tofu Making Beyond a Hobby
Started making authentic mapo tofu during the COVID-19 pandemic and served it at the University of Tokyo's May Festival. Based on authentic Sichuan cuisine, I developed a special recipe through about 50 trials so that many people could enjoy it. In the first year of opening in 2024, we served over 1,000 dishes, and the mapo tofu, made with over 20 ingredients, received a great response. In 2025, we achieved 2,000 servings and won first place in the festival's food stall competition.
