Hikaru Utada's first attempt at narration! NHK Special “Quantum Entanglement Einstein’s Last Mystery”

■“I was so moved by the interviews with scholars that I felt like crying at times, but I had fun recording them until the end.” (Hikaru Utada)

It has been announced that Hikaru Utada will be taking on the challenge of narration for the first time on the NHK special “Quantum Entanglement: Einstein’s Last Mystery” which will be broadcast on December 28th.

Quantum entanglement was once dismissed by Einstein as “the occult,” and even today, many mathematicians and physicists say, “It is difficult to understand why it occurs.” It was in 2022 that its existence was proven and it won the Nobel Prize.

After that, research progressed rapidly, and quantum computers, which far exceed the calculation speed of conventional computers, began to attract the attention of society. Currently, fierce competition is underway to develop this future technology all over the world.

Furthermore, the existence of “quantum entanglement” is beginning to fundamentally overturn the very perception of the universe and humans that has been believed until now. The world of “quantum entanglement,” the last mystery of humanity, will be fully broadcast in a 73-minute expanded version of the NHK special.

■What is “quantum entanglement”?
First of all, what is “quantum entanglement”? This is a strange phenomenon in which particles (quanta), the smallest units of all matter, interact with each other at the same time, even if they are far apart in the universe. The two particles are entangled and related, as if communicating telepathically.

quantum entanglement image

■What’s amazing?
If “ultra-high-speed quantum computers” that apply “quantum entanglement” are put into practical use, it will be possible to develop special drugs to cure various intractable diseases, realize accident-free “flying cars”, and even invalidate all kinds of cryptography. may come true. Furthermore, it opens the door to humanity’s dream technology, teleportation, and has the potential to dramatically advance humanity’s future.

Quantum entanglement and cosmic image

Quantum entanglement and cosmic image

■The fierce battle of scientists behind the proof
In fact, it took nearly 100 years of fierce battles between scientists to confirm the existence of “quantum entanglement.” Even Albert Einstein, the genius who established the theory of relativity, did not believe that it was impossible, and those who attempted to prove it were ridiculed, calling it “pointless research.”

Einstein (C)Getty Images

■Highlights of the program
The program covers Nobel Prize-winning “geniuses”. Using the latest CG, we attempted to visualize humanity’s greatest mystery, “quantum entanglement.” While following the struggles of scientists who became confused after Einstein raised the issue and their tenacity, which can be described as a chain of miracles, we look at the new horizons opened by “quantum entanglement.”

The narration will be performed by Hikaru Utada (his first attempt at narration) and Ichinosuke Shunputei, who have a strong interest in quantum entanglement and other aspects of the formation of the universe, allowing viewers to experience this mysterious and profound world for themselves.

Shunputei Ichinosuke

■Hikaru Utada comment
When I received the offer, I thought, “I definitely want to do it!”
In a series of interviews regarding the best album released this spring, I said that my latest song “Electricity” is about the phenomenon of quantum entanglement, and is a song about the invisible bond between people. It seems that her appearance caught the attention of the program production team.
This was my first attempt at narration, but thanks to everyone on set, I was able to enjoy recording until the end, even though I was so moved by the interviews with the scholars that I almost cried at times.
As a viewer, I am really looking forward to the broadcast!
■Ichinosuke Shunputei Comment
“Impressions from being in charge of narration”
This is a path that I (a liberal arts major) have never taken before, so when I asked my son (a science major) about quantum entanglement beforehand, he became even more confused. It’s strange how when you narrate out loud, you feel like you understand a little bit more.
“What I think about being in charge of the program”
In any field, there are people who are passionate about their work but are not understood by those around them. Straight ahead without worrying about what others think. It was a good opportunity for me to reflect on myself and realize that this is not something I can easily do.