http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gMwDe1ovbiILhtf3JKM2Ez79rGvA "If you've ever played Brain Age, you've been well acquainted with Dr. Ryuta Kawashima's blocky, stoic face. What you may not know, however, is how much money the man has turned down as a result of the game's success. With 17 million copies of Brain Age sold worldwide since its release, Dr. Kawashima is due to earn $22 million (2.4 billion yen) in royalties. Surprisingly, he's refused to accept a single penny for himself. "Not a single yen has gone in my pocket," said the soft-spoken 48-year-old doctor with round-rim glasses. "Everyone in my family is mad at me but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it." According to the rules of Tohoku University, which employs Kawashima, he could accept half of the royalties as long as the remaining half is given to the school. The man is wholly dedicated to his research and work, though, and has never even entertained the notion of accepting the royalties for his 'hard work'. "To hear this may put you off -- but my hobby is work," " For him, though, his research and yearly salary of roughly $100,000 are more than enough."
This guy is weird. He has strict controls on the amount of time his kids can play computer games, because he thinks they should learn to socialise properly, and spends 100% of his time on his research. He thinks computer games are an endless time waster, but spends 100% of his time on research.......a lot of it to make computer games...... he does all this stuff, to prevent dementia, yet is convinced he will get it, because he is researching it.......... And has kids, a family, whom presumably, he will expect to look after him when his brain goes-i doubt it. Sounds like a control freak nutjob, basically.
Sure, and the rest of the general population, but then 99% of those WOULD take the earned money. Including you, Im sure. The article does not mention, if the university (state run) actually gets the whole box and dice if he didnt take his share, or what happens there. If so, maybe he thinks it an act of philanthropy, giving back, and just didnt want his name on a scholarship/whatever, but if his research is so darn important to him, i would guess you could research to your hearts content with such a sum. Seems mighty strange on the face of it, thats for sure.