CHIBA, Japan (Reuters) – Fujitsu is demonstrating technology for analyzing human movements that it says can be used to help preserve traditional culture as Japan struggles with a shrinking population.

Visitors to a fair near Tokyo were able to try moves from the classic ‘Noh’ theater, with their efforts captured by cameras, analyzed and compared to a model performance.

Dating back to the 14th century, Noh theater involves stylized movements created by actors in masks and elaborate costumes.

“It was easier to understand visually than told in words and it was analyzed in a short time, so it made me want to practice more,” said Takashi Ishikawa, a 46-year-old high school teacher who presented the Fujitsu booth visited.

Fujitsu’s technology is already used in sports and has been used as a gymnastics assessment tool since 2019.

“With Japan’s declining birth rate and aging population, the number of people carrying on traditions and techniques is decreasing,” said Hidenori Fujiwara, head of the Human Digital Twin Division at Fujitsu.

“We want to help people learn and experience human movements,” he said at the CEATEC electronics fair near Tokyo.

The company also showed how its technology can be used to visualize visitors’ basketball shooting techniques. The systems have been used at pilates schools in Tokyo since August.

(Reporting by Irene Wang, Miyu Arishima and Sam Nussey; Editing by Alison Williams)