Member Profile: Yoshifumi Kitamura
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
Since 2010, I have been Professor in the Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University where I am Deputy Director since 2018 and Director of the Interdisciplinary ICT Research Center for Cyber and Real Spaces since 2023.
2. What was your first job?
My first professional job was as a researcher at Canon Inc. in Tokyo.
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
My formal education was obtained at Osaka University in Japan, B.Sc and M.S. After working for Canon in Tokyo and ATR in Kyoto, I received my PhD from Osaka University.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
I started my research on VR around 1995 when I was at ATR, and started exhibiting and demonstrating the outcomes of my research at Emerging Technologies, which was when I started participating in SIGGRAPH.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
I think one of the most exciting experiences was when my first technical paper was accepted, a paper on a multi-person stereoscopic display called “IllusionHole”. I remember practicing a lot for the presentation.
The other was when I served as Conference Chair of SIGGRAPH Asia 2015 @Kobe, where I worked together with many people to make it a success.
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
I am currently conducting research with many excellent members to develop technologies to achieve rich remote communication by realizing “telecommunication with nonverbal information” which can adequately convey the subtleties of “nonverbal information” that plays an important role in our daily interpersonal communication. I believe that such technologies will contribute to the realization of an accessible and inclusive society that accommodates diversity in terms of disability, culture, gender, etc., and we hope to contribute to this goal.
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who would it be and why?
My grandson who is almost three years old. He is so cute. I hope to stay healthy until he is old enough to drink alcohol and can also enjoy the taste a little.
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I have never had the opportunity to live in a country other than Japan. I feel a little bit unhappy about that. On a different note, it may not be the case that no one knows about it, I like to enjoy a good drink with good food in the company of wonderful friends.
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
I know that each of you may not think that way, but I have been taught many things by many people. That is still the case. I would like to continue to learn from you all. Thank you.
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM
SIGGRAPH?
I think I was influenced by my Japanese seniors who are active in SIGGRAPH. For presenting a demo at Emerging Technologies, it was Professor Hiroo Iwata, for Technical Papers, it was Professor Tomoyuki Nishita, and for managing SIGGRAPH Asia, it was Professor Masa Inakage.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
I am proud to be featured on a page like this.
I have been working in the community, mainly at international conferences, in my own small way, and recently I have been very honored and grateful to receive awards such as the Lifetime Service Award for my work.