Akira Tago ( ja, 多湖輝, February 25, 1926 – March 6, 2016) was a Japanese

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how indi ...

. He was an honorary emeritus of

Tokyo Future University is a private university in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, whi ...

and a professor emeritus of

Chiba University is a national university in the city of Chiba, Japan. It offers Doctoral degrees in education as part of a coalition with Tokyo Gakugei University, Saitama University, and Yokohama National University. The university was formed in 1949 from exist ...

. He was also the chief of Akira Tago Laboratory. He compiled a best-selling quiz book series ''

Atama no Taisou ''Atama no Taisou'' ( ja, 頭の体操, lit. ''Head Gymnastics'') is a puzzle collecting books series that was released by Kobunsha, and the author is Akira Tago Akira Tago ( ja, 多湖輝, February 25, 1926 – March 6, 2016) was a Japanese psy ...

'' (頭の体操, literally ''Head Gymnastics''), from 1966 to his death. There are 23 sequel parts published. He was also known for designing the puzzles of video games, including the ''

Professor Layton ''Professor Layton'' is a puzzle video game, puzzle adventure game, adventure video game series and transmedia franchise developed by Level-5 (company), Level-5. The property consists primarily of seven main video games, a mobile spin-off, an an ...

'' series, in which he is cited as a "Puzzle Master" in the credits. In the titular Professor Layton's office, the player can also find a book which the professor is reading written by a puzzle master from abroad--as the games take place in the UK, this is likely referring to Tago. He died at the age of 90 in March 2016.

References

1926 births 2016 deaths Japanese psychologists Puzzle designers Academic staff of Chiba University {{Japan-writer-stub