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Video DJ with ALS uses only eyes to perform

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JAPAN NEWS / YOMIURI

Video DJ Masatane Muto poses with sensor-equipped eyeglasses at a club in Tokyo.

Tokyo >> Masatane Muto, 30, calls himself an “eye video disc jockey.” He is probably the only video and music director in the world who only uses his eyes.

Muto was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) three years ago. ALS is an intractable disease that gradually weakens muscles, and he can no longer use his hands. He wears glasses equipped with a sensor, and operates smartphone apps with his eyes. Instead of using fingers, he moves his eyes from side to side and up and down to choose videos, tunes and processing methods, and executes commands by blinking.

“I want to break down barriers between disabled and non-disabled people,” Muto said.

He continues to take on the challenge of making up for lost physical abilities with technology. Since last year, he has been developing a new disc jockey system, improving it by performing in various places, including the United States.

In September, he organized an event at a club in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. He played light-hearted music to videos featuring nature and cities and kept rhythm with his voice, which is becoming more difficult to use. The audience cheered, and Muto said, “I was able to do my best performance.”

He then performed successfully with artists who joined the event to support him, and filled the screen with a message: “No Limit, Your Life.”

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