ESPER lab was used for studies of qi,* presentiment (prevision or precognition), synchronicity, mind-body interactions, consciousness, the sixth sense, and supernatural phenomena. The founder was Yoichiro Sako who, in 1989, approached one of Sony’s two founding fathers, Masaru Ibuka, about starting a special department to study qi.
(*)The term is pronounced “ch’i” and in Chinese means human science or bioenergy
In 1988, Ibuka established the Pulse Graph Research Department to work on a device that was claimed to identify health problems by measuring the pulse. In 1990, he extended the research into measuring other physiological parameters that could change in the body while qi masters tried to alter patients’ qi energy.
Skin temperature was one of these additional measurement parameters. One year later, in 1991, Sako had convinced Sony’s founders to establish a separate laboratory where his studies could be continued, including research into other paranormal phenomena such as psi.
Another important event occurred in 1995, when the ESPER lab was split from the Research Institute of Wisdom and became part of the company’s Research and Development Division.
Some years ago, Sako was interviewed in Las Vegas, and the conversation was published by the magazine Fortean Times (vol. 115). According to Sako, the greatest success of the ESPER lab was in the field of clairvoyance.
Experiments made with a young school girl revealed fantastic results. But the interesting part is that, when the interviewer asked about the techonology, the answer was surprising. Instead of describing a highly advanced technical process that is not easy to reproduce in a common laboratory, Sako answered simply, “It’s low technology. High tech is not necessary.”
According to the Fortean Times interview, a Sony spokesman named Masanobu told the South China Morning Post’s Benjamin Fulford, for a story that appeared some days afterward, “We found out experimentally that ESP exists.” In the same interview, when asked by a reporter from Fortean Times if Sony had any psi-based products in works, he flashed a great big friendly smile and, after a long delay and a vigorous shake of the head, said, “There are no products.
Not yet.” Recently, Sony announced that the ESPER lab will be closing its doors “officially.”
What is behind all these facts? Why is Sony closing the lab’s doors? Did they discover something so important that it would be inconvenient to let the world know about its existence? Must further investigations be kept secret?
According to Bill Higgins, who worked for a company in New Jersey that attempted to create products based in PSI technology, “Sako was onto something.”
The words derma sight and touch sight seem to have a special meaning for Sony’s researchers.
Some interesting questions arise from all of this. Why is an electronics company so interested in paranormal experiments? If the electronics are so important, is it necessary to use high-tech equipment in this field? Or was Sako correct that only low-tech approaches are required, meaning that simple circuits and devices can be used to obtain good results?
These questions can serve as an important starting point for readers who want to perform experiments using the projects that are presented next. We can infer that much more can be discovered than you may be imagining. The “aura” of mystery characteristic of the oriental culture, when added to all these contradictory indications, can be a source of much more enthusiasm for the reader who wants to conduct practical experiments.
