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MINORU FUJIMOTO B orn in 1983, Minoru Fujimoto has spent his life balancing two passions: the rhythm of dance and the precision of technology. What began in middle school with a Michael Jackson cassette tape evolved into a lifelong pursuit of movement, creativity and innovation. While training as a breakdancer, he studied engineering at Kobe University, where he discovered wearable computing – a field that would allow him to blend his skills in choreography with cutting- edge systems. That unique combination became the foundation of his artistic journey. After a period of teaching at the Tokyo University of Technology, Fujimoto founded MPLUSPLUS in 2013, a company dedicated to transforming live performance through light and motion. From LED- embedded costumes and ribbons to programmable flags and even drone-based displays, Fujimoto’s work pushes the boundaries of what performance can look like. His light choreography took centre stage at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games opening ceremony, where he helped create customised LED designs for athletes that celebrated individuality and inclusivity. International recognition quickly followed. In 2022, he appeared on America’s Got Talent as both a director and a performer, unveiling the world’s first programmable LED ribbons. The performance earned high praise from the notoriously hard-to-impress Simon Cowell. Since then, MPLUSPLUS has collaborated with world- leading artists and brands, including contributing a dazzling LED dress to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour. Fujimoto joins LIVE to tell his story and highlight the creative ways in which we can look to weave AV into live performance.
Interview Verity Butler
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