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Memorising the digits of pi has fascinated people for centuries. In the early 19th century, only a few hundred digits were known, making it a fun challenge. However, with modern computers calculating trillions of digits, only the most dedicated attempt to memorise them today.
One such person is Akira Haraguchi, a Japanese man who has taken pi memorisation to an extraordinary level. In 2006, he recited 100,000 digits of pi from memory at a public event in Tokyo, a feat that took him 16 hours and 30 minutes. In 2010, he claimed to have recited 101,031 digits and later pushed his personal record to an incredible 111,700 digits.
Despite his achievements, Haraguchi’s records have not been validated by the Guinness World Records. Instead, the Pi World Records website recognises Chao Lu from China, who recited 67,890 digits.
Memorising pi is extremely difficult as the digits have no logical pattern. To overcome this challenge, Haraguchi created his own language system, according to The Guardian. He assigned syllables to numbers and then used them to construct over 800 stories, featuring animals and plants as key characters.
For him, reciting pi is more than just a memory exercise. He compares it to meditation and chanting Buddhist mantras, saying it brings him peace of mind and body. He even increased his daily practice, reciting over 25,000 digits each day, which takes him around three hours.
Interestingly, his family has little interest in his passion for pi. They see it as a harmless hobby and accept his dedication, even if they don’t share it.
