Tomoki Ishikura

Nara Institute of Science and Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Tomoki Ishikura is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics and affective touch, exploring how machines can deliver emotionally meaningful physical contact. His work focuses on developing human-imitation robotic hands capable of performing gentle, pleasant stroke motions—a form of touch care traditionally provided by human caregivers. Ishikura’s key contributions include demonstrating that robotic stroke touch can elicit subjective and physiological positive emotional responses comparable to human touch, as shown in his 2020 study (3 citations). His most impactful work, "Delivery of pleasant stroke touch via robot in older adults" (2024, 6 citations), extends this to older populations, addressing critical caregiver shortages by validating that robot-delivered touch has clinically positive effects on well-being. By combining engineering innovation with psychophysiological evaluation, Ishikura’s research opens new avenues for robotic assistance in elder care and emotional support. His findings highlight the potential for robots to not only perform functional tasks but also provide comforting, human-like interactions, making his work highly relevant for students and researchers in human-robot interaction, gerontechnology, and affective computing.