Miho Takagi, who reached the pinnacle, asks "What lies beyond that."

Miho Takagi, an Olympic medalist with a total of 10 medals (the most for a Japanese woman across Summer and Winter Games). Aoto will unravel the power and processes behind her achievements, not just the "results," from the perspective of brain and neuroscience, leading to learning that allows everyone to draw out and nurture their own potential, and opening pathways to the development of next-generation athletes. Free for elementary, junior high, and high school students.

DAncing Einstein Inc. (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Mizuto Aoto) will hold its first co-hosted dialogue event, "Beyond the Pinnacle / The Human Brain and Performance," on Sunday, July 26, 2026, featuring former Japanese speed skating representative Miho Takagi and the company's representative and applied neuroscientist Mizuto Aoto, at Osaka Medical College (Kita-ku, Osaka). Ms. Takagi, who won a total of 10 Olympic medals, the most for a Japanese woman across Summer and Winter Games, and retired from competition in 2026, will share what she sees beyond that "pinnacle." Aoto will unravel the thoughts, sensations, and self-observation processes that underpinned her success, which cannot be fully explained by wins, losses, or records alone, from the perspective of brain and neuroscience. The event aims to open up the practical knowledge of top athletes to society not as a story of exceptional talent, but as learning for everyone to draw out and nurture their own potential, with participation fees free for elementary, junior high, and high school students.

This event is not one where Ms. Takagi is simply invited as a speaker; it is the first public event she is co-planning and co-hosting with DAncing Einstein. The two, who have been in dialogue for several years since Ms. Takagi's active career, will share their accumulated insights in public for the first time.

Turning Top Athletes' Experiences into Learning for All, Not Just Stories of Special Talent

Miho Takagi's competitive career, marked by challenges at the highest level globally, involved processes of thought and inquiry that go beyond mere medals and records. How did she perceive the physical sensations arising from daily training and races, how did she articulate them, and how did she connect them to the next step? In high-pressure situations, what did she focus on, what did she let go of, and how did she regulate her own state?

Practices commonly referred to as "routines," "imagery training," and "verbalization" have a depth that cannot be captured by mere methodologies when carefully tracing what happens internally for the individual. Simply imitating the methods of someone who consistently achieved great results does not lead to reproducible learning.

This event is not an opportunity to hear Ms. Takagi's experiences as success stories. Aoto posits that Ms. Takagi was able to reach the pinnacle because, beyond the results, there were powers and processes such as continuously observing her own sensations and refining her thoughts. Aoto will unravel Ms. Takagi's journey, observed through dialogue since her active career, from the perspective of applied neuroscience. The starting point of this event is to open up the practical knowledge of top athletes not as a story of special talent or success, but as a perspective for each individual to draw out and nurture their own potential.

"Continuously weaving thoughts, no matter the situation. Believing there is something beyond that": A visual image created based on the words Miho Takagi cherished throughout her athletic career.

Themes to Explore Together on the Day

On the day of the event, using Ms. Takagi's competitive career and thought processes as a guide, Aoto will address questions such as the following, incorporating perspectives from brain and neuroscience:

What is curiosity directed inward, not just outward?

What is the difference between "so-called routines" and routines that lead to performance?

What are we "imagining" in "imagery training"?

The speed, breadth, and processing power of thought that support split-second decisions. What happens in the brain during that time?

How does the ability to notice one's own sensations, articulate them, and connect them to the next action develop?

How did you manage your attention and emotions in high-pressure situations?

*Content is subject to change.

Opening Top Athletes' Inquiries to Children and Society

This event is not limited to athletes and sports professionals. It is a learning opportunity for a wide range of people, including those who want to achieve higher performance in their work, those who want to think about how to approach challenges in their own way, those involved in education, human resource development, and the development of future athletes, and those who support the growth of children and athletes.

By opening up Ms. Takagi's experiences to society not as a story of special talent or athletic achievement, but as learning for individuals to understand themselves and nurture their own potential. As part of this initiative, participation fees for elementary, junior high, and high school students will be free, providing children who will lead the next generation with an opportunity to experience the thoughts of top athletes and learn about brain science.

Why These Two Individuals?

This dialogue is not an event where Ms. Takagi is invited as a one-time guest to speak. Ms. Takagi and Aoto have been engaged in dialogue for several years since Ms. Takagi's active career. Even during her competitive career, Ms. Takagi read Aoto's books, attended his lectures, and consistently showed interest in re-examining her own performance from the perspective of brain and neuroscience. Through their conversations, Aoto has observed Ms. Takagi's approach to thoughts and sensations beyond results, and her inward-looking inquiry.

In her retirement press conference in 2026, Ms. Takagi also spoke of her interest in the brain and body and her desire to disseminate the knowledge gained from them to society. This was not a sudden development but an extension of the learning and inquiry she had pursued since her active career. This event is a space co-created by the two, born from the accumulation of their dialogue over several years.

Furthermore, the "power and processes that produced the results, rather than the results themselves," which became apparent from Ms. Takagi's athletic career, can be applied to various situations where people nurture their own potential, including future athlete education and human resource development. This event will explore that scope alongside the journey of these two individuals.

Miho Takagi's Comment

Due to my physical constitution, improvements in physical ability will eventually plateau. However, how the brain can be used is still a black hole. It was from this thought that I became interested in the brain. As a result, I believe my greatest weapons during my active career were my thinking ability and concentration, rather than my technique or physical ability. I am currently deepening my self-observation with the cooperation of applied neuroscientist Mr. Aoto, driven by the curiosity to understand what can be learned by unraveling these aspects one by one.

On the day, simply talking about my experiences wouldn't be interesting. I hope to deepen my learning together with everyone through neuroscience, and I would be happy if that time leads to insights for those who are about to challenge something.

Mizuto Aoto's Comment

Simply imitating the methods of successful people does not make them your own strength. What has learning value is what happened behind those results. In my conversations with Miho Takagi since her active career, I observed her ability to notice her own sensations, articulate them, and continuously refine her thoughts. However, what I truly want to unravel is what enabled her to do so, and why she was able to be that way – the background behind it. This cannot be dismissed with a single word like "talent." Examining this from the perspective of brain and neuroscience should connect to the development of future athletes and all fields where people grow. On the day, I hope to explore with everyone what lies "beyond the pinnacle."

Event Overview

DAncing Einstein × Miho Takagi Co-hosted Event "Beyond the Pinnacle / The Human Brain and Performance"

Date and Time

Sunday, July 26, 2026, 14:00 - 16:00

Venue Osaka Medical College (1-10-3 Oyodonaka, Kita-ku, Osaka)

Program 14:00 - 14:30 Part 1 | Miho Takagi She will speak in her own words about the mindset she cherished throughout her athletic career and the thoughts and sensations behind it.

14:30 - 15:30 Part 2 | Mizuto Aoto Responding to Ms. Takagi's talk, Aoto will unravel the thoughts, sensations, and self-observation processes behind her results, and the brain functions that support performance, from the perspective of applied neuroscience. Based on their ongoing dialogue since her active career, he will interpret "Takagi's strength that cannot be explained by results alone."

15:30 - 16:00 Part 3 | Q&A Based on questions from participants, Ms. Takagi and Aoto will delve deeper into the themes. A time where experience and science intersect.

*Program content and times are subject to change.

Participation Fee Adult General: 5,000 yen University Students: 3,000 yen Elementary, Junior High, High School Students: Free

Co-hosted by DAncing Einstein Inc. / Miho Takagi

Sponsored by Takamatsu Construction Co., Ltd.

Event Details and Registration Peatix Event Page: https://brain-performance-01.peatix.com (Registration closes July 23 (Thu), 23:59) *Registration may close early if capacity is reached.

<Inquiries regarding participation in this event> Please enter your inquiry in the form below and submit. After confirmation, a staff member will contact you via email. URL (Google Form): https://forms.gle/pySFhm69QxzVv82G8 *Please refrain from contacting Osaka Medical College, the venue, regarding this event.

Speaker Profiles

Miho Takagi

Former Japanese Speed Skating Representative. Retired from competition in 2026. A gold medalist who won a total of 10 Olympic medals, the most for a Japanese woman across Summer and Winter Games, and the current world record holder in the women's 1500m.

Mizuto Aoto

Representative Director of DAncing Einstein Inc. Applied Neuroscientist. After dropping out of high school in Japan, he graduated from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) with a degree in Neuroscience in 2012, skipping grades. Founded DAncing Einstein in 2014. He pioneered the field of "Applied Neuroscience," which applies knowledge of the brain and nervous system not only to medicine but also to human growth and well-being, developing the fields of NeuroEdTech® and NeuroHRTech®, and holds multiple patents. His books include "BRAIN DRIVEN" and "4 Focus: 4 Ways to Sharpen Your Brain."

Discover 21 (2020/9/25)

KADOKAWA (2021/3/18)

SB Creative (2021/4/22)

Co-authored with Yuichi Kudo, SB Creative (2021/5/1)

DAncing Einstein Inc.

A team that continues to explore and practice "the evolution of human growth and well-being" with neuroscience as its core. They integrate knowledge from various fields, including cutting-edge global research, scientific insights from psychology and behavioral science, philosophical, Zen, and historical wisdom, and practical knowledge from the field, to create unique theories and algorithms that support human understanding and growth. They also co-create cross-disciplinary projects that shape "learning and experiences for better human development" with diverse partners in corporations, education, local governments, and sports. These projects are implemented in various forms, including learning design, lecture programs, product development, and spatial design/art.

Representative: Mizuto Aoto, Representative Director Year Established: 2014 Location: Ginza 7-15-8-406, Chuo-ku, Tokyo URL: https://www.da-einstein.com