Academic background: Graduated from PhD in Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Dr. Mitani completed a doctoral program in engineering at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering in 2004. He joined RIKEN as a researcher in 2005 and became a lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, University of Tsukuba, in 2006, where he has been serving as a professor from 2015 until now. From 2006 to 2009, he was a PRESTO researcher at the Japan Science and Technology Agency studying origami paper folding, including its design technique using computers. He has loved making paper crafts and using computers since his childhood, which has led to his present study subject. He also serves as a councilor of the Japan Origami Academic Society. He has authored “3D Origami Art” and “Curved Origami Design” published by CRC Press.
[Awards received]| 2007 | Japan Society for Graphic Science Award and its Thesis Award Excellent Thesis Award of at CGAC 2007 International CG Thesis Awards |
| 2008 | Digital Contents Symposium Funai Award |
| 2009 | The 4th Japan Society for Graphic Science Thesis Award |
| 2011 | MSR Japan New Faculty Award |
| 2012 | University of Tsukuba 2012 Best Faculty Member Award |
| 2014 | Invited to workshop at Israel Origami Center International Convention Served as organizing committee vice chair at the 6th International Meeting on Origami in Science,Mathematics and Education (6OSME) Invited to Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) as lecturer |
| 2015 | Presented his study at Fuji Television Network program Mezamashi TV |
| 2016 | His origami works appeared in the movie Death Note: Light Up the New World His origami patterns appeared in the movie Shin Godzilla Took office as senior science and technology policy fellow at Bureau of Science, Technology and Innovation, Cabinet Office (part time) Published “3D Origami Art,” English version of “Rittai Origami Art,” from CRC Press |
| 2017 | Served as jury committee chair for Asian Digital Modeling Contest 2017 Demonstrated origami at World Government Summit 2017 in Dubai |
[Website] http://mitani.cs.tsukuba.ac.jp/ja/
