Miho Takagi (32), the women’s speed skating Olympic gold medalist who received the National Honor Award last month, has been announced as an external researcher — a “Human Performance Fellow” — at Wacoal’s Human Science Research and Development Center, effective September 1. Takagi’s ties to Wacoal date back to her high school days, and since 2019 she’s held a partnership contract for the conditioning wear brand “CW-X,” making for a six-and-a-half-year relationship. On 5ch, opinions were split: some saw sense in putting her competitive experience to use in product development, while others were skeptical, asking “Isn’t this just a promotional gig?” and “Does it actually relate to her sport?”
9/11 (Fri) 14:41
Major lingerie maker Wacoal announced on the 10th that Miho Takagi (32), the women’s speed skating Olympic gold medalist who received the National Honor Award last month, was appointed on the 1st as an external researcher — a “Human Performance Fellow” — at the company’s Human Science Research and Development Center. Going forward, the perspective and physical sense Takagi honed through competition will be put to use in research activities and product development. Wacoal also said it plans to share details of her activities through its own media channels.
Wacoal’s relationship with Takagi began back in her high school days, and in 2019 she signed a partnership contract for the conditioning wear brand “CW-X,” which she herself uses. Wacoal explained, “Since [2019], we’ve built our relationship over roughly six and a half years through product-development interviews and information sharing.” According to Wacoal, Takagi has also shown interest in topics like conditioning and healthy life expectancy.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
Or is it just a promotional hire?
It's both, really.
Sports apparel actually does produce gear that ends up restricting your movement, so there's real value in having someone who's actually competed serve as the guinea pig for testing it.
Honestly, thinking it *doesn't* relate is the scary part.
She's an external researcher, so this is probably on top of whatever else she's doing.
Pretty admirable.
Please, give us one that nails both hold and breathability…
Surprisingly enough, there's a golf retail chain called Niki Golf.
Niki Golf's own-brand underwear is actually OEM'd by Wacoal — cheap and honestly pretty solid!
If athletes design sports-type underwear, it'll probably sell.
Kodaira's café thing is the more surprising one though. (fellow speed skater Nao Kodaira)
Wait, Kodaira runs a café now?
Is "external researcher" basically like being a visiting professor?
Guessing she gets paid but doesn't have to show up at the office every day.
Kaori Sakamoto's gone that route.
Apparently she had a surprisingly strong drive to become a TV personality.
basically she's a CW-X tester, right? Still think she's well-suited for it.
Ohtani's arm supporter and inner wear are made by Wacoal too, so she's probably a good fit.
Background and Key Points of This Topic
The external researcher, or “Fellow,” title isn’t a full-time hire — it’s a visiting-style position that puts the physical sense and know-how gained through competition to use in product development, and notably isn’t a full-time job. Takagi’s relationship with Wacoal dates back to her high school days, and her partnership contract for the conditioning wear brand “CW-X” has continued since 2019, so this appointment isn’t a sudden ad tie-in but an extension of roughly six and a half years of accumulated ties. On the thread, opinions split between those who, citing this track record, called it “a sensible choice,” and skeptics who said things like “Isn’t this just a promotional role?” or “Does it really relate to her sport?” It’s also worth noting, since it’s easily misread, that “external researcher” is a part-time title — not a sign of retirement or stepping away from competition — and Takagi will hold the role alongside her active career.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Sports/Entertainment News+) thread “Miho Takagi appointed as Wacoal external researcher — to engage in research and product development, “aiming to generate new perspectives and insights…”“
