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Moonbell transforms the topography of the moon into sound, using data from lunar orbiting satellite Selene, better known in Japan by its nickname Kaguya, allowing the viewer to also create their own sounds.

It’s been prepared by a group of researchers and artists involved in the studies of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), including Ichiro Higashiizumi, Takuya Shimada (creative director), Takashi Yamaguchi, Satoru Higa, Tom Vincent, Junya Hirokawa (project coordinator), Eriko Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Kameda (R&D) and Yu Murooka (press officer).

Ichiro Higashiizumi is educated in engineering. He was engaged in various physical labor works before he decided to work as a graphic designer. Since then, he has worked on films, product designs, he headed web-based projects and coordinated interior designs projects. He has also worked on a conceptual design for an exhibit at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan), Tokyo, and performed conceptual work for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The idea of his work is to make things that are made for the first time. Bridging several fields of design, science, engineering, art and physical expression, he is concerned with innovation and solving of the problems occurring in comprehensive contexts. Since Sensorium Project, which won a Golden Nica Award at Ars Electronica in 1997, he has created many experimental installations in different countries – from music and dance projects to total design concepts. He continues to work on communication design projects of all scales.