A graduate's research was featured in the Asahi Shimbun [Design Studies]

Graduates of the Doctoral Program in DesignMasato Tsuruzaki(graduated in March 2024, supervised by Professor Ken Fuda of the Affiliated Graduate School)Asahi ShimbunThis article was published in the magazine (dated May 2026, 2).

The article covers the reality of fatal accidents occurring while assisting people with disabilities and the elderly with bathing, and measures to prevent them. As a student, Tsurumazaki overturned the concept that bathing means soaking in a bathtub, and instead researched "bathtubless bathrooms" that primarily feature showers (title of doctoral thesis: Study on the components of bathtubless bathrooms converted from closets to prevent everyday accidents). A questionnaire revealed that caregivers felt burdened by the action of stepping over the bathtub, and through an experiment in which subjects played the role of a person requiring assistance and a caregiver reenacted bathing movements, he examined the dimensions and appropriate equipment placement of bathtubless bathrooms from an ergonomic perspective.

During his time at university, Tsuruzaki conducted research into the safety of architectural spaces from the perspectives of everyday disasters, universal design, and barrier-free access. He is currently working as a researcher at the Building Research Institute, a national research and development agency.

Articles published(Charged)
Asahi Shimbun, "Fatal Accidents During Bathing Assistance: Is Bathtub-Free the Solution? Research on the Benefits of Bathing in Hot Water" (February 20, 2026)
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASV2K1F7NV2KUNHB01HM.html