The latest works 48

since February 25, 2012


"To see or not to see"

The left face appears to gaze at the observer, while the right one, just the mirror image of the left one, appears to see the left side of the observer.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (August 4)



"The Great Bear"

Stars appear to scintillate.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (July 12)



"Expansion and contraction of clouds #2"

Newly born black clouds appear to expand for a short time while newly born white clouds appear to contract. My speculation is that white part is perceived earlier occupying a wider area than it is and the brain corrects the position of the white/black border after black part is processed.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (June 19)










"Expansion and contraction of clouds"

The upper two clouds appear to expand while the lower two appear to contract. The white clouds appear to be larger than the black one (irradiation), though they are the same size.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (June 19)



"Illusory rotation-dependent eye direction illusion"

Both rings appear to rotate counterclockwise. If these are eyes, the eyes appear to see leftward for observers.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (June 9)


Both rings appear to rotate clockwise. If these are eyes, the eyes appear to see rightward for observers.



"Rotating hearts for protanopes"

Rings of hearts appear to rotate clockwise for protanopes. They appear to rotate counterclockwise for trichromats.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (May 25)

This image was exhibited in a poster session in the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Color Science Association of Japan held in Kyoto University on 26th May, 2012.
Aabstract PDF (in Japanese)

Thanks to S

If you have some comments, please email me.



"Cherry blossom can"

Disks appear to rotate.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (May 22)


"10th annivesary of Akiyoshi's Illusion Pages"

Rings appear to rotate.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (May 11)


"10th annivesary of Akiyoshi's Illusion Pages 2"

Words appear to drift.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (May 11)


"Rotating cherries"

Cherries appear to move. When observers approach or move away from the image fixing their eyes on the center, two rings appear to rotate in the direction opposite to each other. When observers see the center, stripes appear to be tinted bluish.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (March 26)


"Kamigamo shrine distance illusion"

Which of xyz is the intermediate point between A and B?

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (March 10)

The answer is x, not y or z.


The red dots are placed with the same distance.



"Distance illusion"

Where is the median line between the upper and lower sides?

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (March 11)

The median appears to be slightly upper than the second line from the lower side, but it is actually lower than it. Put the cursor on the image, then the median line is shown with a red line.


"Perspective Poggendrff illusion"

The uppermost line of the left wall is aligned with the lowermost line of the right wall, but the former appears to be placed upper than the latter. In the same way, the 2nd-5th lines from the uppermost one of the right wall are aligned with the 2nd-5th lines from the lowermost lone of the left wall, respectively, but the former appear to be placed upper than the latter.

The uppermost line of the right wall is aligned with the lowermost line of the left wall, but the former appears to be placed upper than the latter. In the same way, the 2nd-5th lines from the uppermost one of the left wall are aligned with the 2nd-5th lines from the lowermost lone of the right wall, respectively, but the former appear to be placed upper than the latter.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (March 12)



"Dropping illusion"

Words appear to drop.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (February 25)



"Quivering words"

Words appear to quiver laterally.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2012 (February 25)


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