[Novel: Venus Syndrome] (38) A History of Prosthetic Hand Development

"When you say Muranouchi-san, I think of "Rin Hikita", who won the gold medal at the N'Djamena Para Games."

Rin Muranouchi answers the interviewer's words with a smile.

"I hear she is married now and is working as a swimming instructor... I have always been moved by the way she remains active on the front lines."

Rin Muranouchi smiled, looking a little embarrassed.
Silver at the Asuncion Paralympics, gold at the N'Djamena Paralympics.
She is the very person who was part of the first generation of "Venus children"—Rin Hikita—who was born without both arms due to the so-called "2ndThalidomideIncident" of unknown cause, and who led the way in Para swimming.

She retired from active competition after the games and married a wheelchair track athlete who had also competed at the same N'Djamena Games.
She currently works as a swimming instructor in Tokyo, teaching children how to swim.

"When I was a child, I was always relying on my parents for help. The prosthetic hands were incomparably heavier than they are now, they hurt if I bumped them, and they didn't move the way I wanted them to.
Every time I could do something, I was so happy... but at the same time, it was a daily struggle of facing 'the me who couldn't do things'."

In front of the camera, there is no longer any awkwardness in Rin's hands as she moves her prosthetic hand slowly.
The movement of the joints was smooth and natural.

"Now, I have no trouble with daily life.
But conversely, there are times when I feel uncomfortable 'living with hands'.
I still find myself trying to pick things up or pinch things with my feet.
The children today have a sense that 'having a prosthetic hand is normal'.
...Even though we aren't that far apart in age, I feel like we are already from different generations."

Her words were tinged with both the sadness of being left behind by the changing times and hope for the next generation.

—

In the second half, the program covers the prosthetic manufacturer "Saisei Prosthetics" on the theme of "How have prosthetic hands evolved?".

The guide who appeared was a young woman—Yuina Waride. She is also a Venus child and currently works in research and development as a model for wearing prosthetic hands.
Not for corporate use or commercials, but in university and manufacturer laboratories, she wears prototype prosthetic hands to check their behavior and durability—a modest, yet essential job.

"With this joint part... oh, um, over there—"

Rin noticed something in Yuina's speech.

"Oh, are you perhaps from Ishikawa or around there?"

"Yes! Kanazawa! Um, Rin-san, you are..."

"Tsuruga in Fukui."

"Oh, then that's Kansai! It's over the Kinome Pass."

"...Oh. So you won't include me in the Hokuriku region."

The two looked at each other and laughed.

—

Inside the factory, prosthetic hand parts of various sizes were lined up on the desk.
Myoelectric prosthetic hands, cosmetic types, and lightweight multi-joint models under research.
And the biggest challenge now—"miniaturization".

"I can't even wear long sleeves, let alone cardigans, so everyone cuts their sleeves.
I've been doing it since elementary school... even in winter, I'd go sleeveless. That's surprisingly tough."

Rin nodded at Yuina's words.

"It was the same in my day. Rather than 'choosing' clothes, I often had to 'give up' on them."

Between recordings, when the cameras weren't rolling.
Yuina said, as if remembering.

"When I was in elementary school, my prosthetic hand was so bulky that boys would tease me, calling me a 'robot' or 'Iron Man', and I would cry.
But... I wanted to say 'I'm a human being', so I would wear shorts or miniskirts even in winter.
It was a strange kind of stubbornness, though."

"...Even a cute girl like you had such a hard time."

Tears welled up quietly in Rin's eyes.

They were of different generations and had different jobs. But on the path they had walked with their prosthetic hands, there was something they could understand about each other.

—

The program was broadcast during prime time, and "#HistoryOfProstheticHandDevelopment" and "#GenerationalGapOfVenusChildren" trended on social media.

While there were positive voices such as "I was moved," "I didn't know that," and "Prosthetic hands have evolved this much," there were also notable criticisms such as "tear-jerker," "glorification of prosthetics," and "too biased."