Member Profile: Masahiko Inami
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
I have been a professor at the University of Tokyo since 2015, heading
the Information Somatics Laboratory. Influenced by science fiction
films and Japanese anime from a young age, I have been deeply involved
in research on Human Augmentation Technology, Entertainment Computing,
and Multi-Modal Interaction for many years.
2. What was your first job?
As a part-time job during my undergraduate studies at Tokyo Tech, I
taught at a cram school for middle and high school students and built
experimental gadgets for NHK science programs. My first full-time
position was as a Research Associate after earning my Ph.D.
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
I initially majored in bioengineering, focusing on biosensors up to my
master’s degree. I then shifted my focus to robotics and computer
science during my Ph.D. program, receiving my doctorate from the
University of Tokyo.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
When I was an undergraduate, Sony established the Science Art
Laboratory (SALA), a research space open to students 24/7. As a
member, I was introduced to SIGGRAPH proceedings and videos, and I
dreamed of attending SIGGRAPH someday. In my Ph.D. program, I asked my
supervisor for a chance to present at SIGGRAPH, and in 1997, during my
second year, I finally got the opportunity to participate. I showcased
my work at Electric Garden (now Emerging Technologies), received
positive feedback, and committed myself to this field. I became an
Etech enthusiast and have exhibited 55 installations at SIGGRAPH as of
summer 2024. I served as Etech Chair for SIGGRAPH Asia 2008 in
Singapore and SIGGRAPH 2016 in Anaheim.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
SIGGRAPH 1999. I exhibited a project called “Head-Mounted Projector.”
As a side attraction for people waiting in line, I presented “Optical
Camouflage,” using the same principle as the main exhibit.
Surprisingly, the side exhibit became a huge hit and is now one of my
signature works. I learned that sometimes the more casual projects
resonate better with people. Also, working with the “Team Mona Kasra”
at SIGGRAPH 2016 remains an exciting memory.
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM
SIGGRAPH community.
I am consistently interested in enhancing human perception, physical
abilities, and cognitive functions, and in creating technologies that
entertain. Like many in the SIGGRAPH community, I am fascinated by the
fusion of technology and expression. A recent example is the JIZAI
ARMS project: https://jizai-arms.com/.
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who
would it be and why?
I would like to have dinner with my childhood self. I would tell him,
“While technology outside of computer science hasn’t progressed as far
as you imagined, you’re still doing a pretty good job of realizing the
things you wanted to do. And it’s been quite fun.”
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I had a close friend and colleague from my time at Tokyo Tech, Dr.
Naoki Kawakami. We were always brainstorming, implementing ideas
together, and shared a deep passion for SIGGRAPH, attending it
together every year. Sadly, Naoki passed away due to illness in 2009.
Even now, I often find myself asking my inner friend, “What would
Naoki think of this idea?” as I work through new concepts.
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your
life? What did they teach you?
My Ph.D. advisor, Prof. Susumu Tachi, taught me the importance of not
just excelling in established fields but creating new ones, gathering
collaborators, and promoting them. Thanks to his teachings, I shifted
my goal from being an “academic gamer” to an “academic game creator.”
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to
work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
Prof. Hiroo Iwata is a pioneer of the current Etech community filled
with Japanese researchers, and he guided me to Etech. Dr. Ramesh
Raskar is one of my closest friends and most respected researchers
whom I met at SIGGRAPH. He encouraged me to participate not only as an
attendee but also as a committee member.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
Watching people experience our installation at SIGGRAPH Etech and
seeing their initial surprise turn into smiles is one of my proudest
moments. It feels like a sushi chef offering his best dish over the
counter to a delighted customer. Nowadays, I take even greater joy in
seeing the success and positive reception of my students’ works.