What We Know So Far about the Flash Anzan Method 1

The Flash Anzan method seems one of the favorite topics of TV program creators, and various experimental attempts have been carried out in some information or entertainment programs.

You may think that experiments in entertainment programs are far from rigorous and may include some faking. It is true that they are over-dramatized or staged just to entertain the audience, but they are still precious for seeking suggestions about what the Flash Anzan method is all about under the present circumstances where it is not treated duly in the field of education studies.

1. The Flashing Speed Should Be Set Appropriately?

The first video features a woman comedian named Miyuki Torii as a human calculator. She used to learn soroban and has earned the 2nd grade certificate.

In the video, she tried calculations six times. And in the first trial, she gave a wrong answer and complained about the flashing speed, saying that the soroban in her mind disappeared because the flashing was too slow. Therefore, the flashing speed was raised gradually from the second trial.

(Unfortunately the below video was removed.)




She added up 5 or 10 number sets in each trial as below.

Flash Anzan Performance by Ms. Miyuki Torii

Trial	Number Sets	Flashing Interval	Result
1	5 (Two-Digit)	1.0 sec.	Failed
2	10  (Two-Digit)	0.8 sec.	Succeeded
3	10  (Two-Digit)	0.6 sec.	Succeeded
4	5  (Two-Digit)	0.4 sec.	Succeeded
5	5  (Two-Digit)	0.36 sec.	Succeeded
6	5  (Two-Digit)	0.3 sec.	Gave up

This video suggests that the Flash Anzan method fails to work properly when the flashing is excessively fast or slow. It seems that there is an appropriate range of flashing speed for each Flash Anzan performer. 

2. The Flash Anzan Calculation Defies Disturbance?

Second video shows the performance of Mr. Takeo Sasano, the Guinness world record holder of the Flash Anzan method. In this video, the first trial was carried out normally, but in the 2nd and the 3rd trials, unusual settings were prepared to challenge his concentration. In the 2nd trial, number sets were increased and flashing duration was extended. And in the third trial, some horror images were inserted in an attempt to disturb his calculation.





His performance data in the video are as follows.

Flash Anzan Performance by Mr. Takeo Sasano

Trial	Numbers Set	Flashing Duration	Result	Remarks
1	15  (Three-Digit)	1.7 sec.	Succeeded
2	50  (Three-Digit)	15 sec.	Succeeded	Longer Duration
3	50  (Three-Digit)	20 sec.	Succeeded	Longer Duration with Four Disturbing Images Inserted

*Please note that the Flashing Duration was mentioned in this program instead of the Flashing Interval.

Most interesting and superb is the third trial, in which he gave the correct answer despite the horror images inserted (the fourth image was a photo of the program MC and the ghost-disguised woman coming from under the table was just for joking, of course). And, what's more, he was commenting on those disturbing images while watching the number sets flashed on the screen.

I don't know how far this TV program is "staged", but the phenomenon itself seems possible because multitasking nature of the Flash Anzan method is reported also by other people.

(To be continued)