The Mnemonics Used By A Japanese Memorist

The subject of this research was a Japanese memorist named Haraguchi Akira, who recited more than100,000decimals of pi in a public performance on October3rd,2006. This research discovered his mnemonics in the laboratory.Experiment1examined whether Haraguchi could memorize100,000decimals of pi and how he divided the digits into groups; experiment2was employed to discover his mnemonics; experiment3tested Haraguchi's memory span; experiment4was trying to discover whether he used the method of loci or picture during the experiment; experiment5was devised to test his point of view that the vital factor affecting his memory performance was whether digits were good for making up stories; experiment6discovered the Haraguchi's performance when memorizing normal numbers and binary numbers in the conditions that has time limited.Through the experiments, we could lead to the conclusions as follows:1. Memory span could be increased by practice. Experiment1has four trails and Haraguchi's memory span raised gradually from8then stabled at11.2. Haraguchi used digit-syllable mnemonic, homophonic and story mnemonics, he did not used the method of loci and the picture to help memorizing.3. Haraguchi's mnemonics served him well in memorizing pi, but can not be applied to other memory tasks.4. The capacity in Long-term memory can be expand through extensive practice.5. In gerontic, people's memory would not simply deteriorate as their age increasing. Under the help of appropriate training and mnemonics, people's memory could be improved.