Hiroshi Ishiguro

1.1. Early Life and Education

Hiroshi Ishiguro was born on 23 October 1963, in Azumagawa-cho, Takashima-gun, Shiga Prefecture, which is now part of Takashima City, Japan. In his youth, Ishiguro harbored a passion for oil painting and initially aspired to become an artist. However, his academic path led him towards computer science, which he studied at the University of Yamanashi, graduating in 1986. He continued his education at the Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University, where he pursued engineering, completing his doctoral studies in the Physics Department in 1991. This blend of artistic inclination and rigorous scientific training profoundly influenced his unique approach to robotics, where aesthetic realism and philosophical inquiry meet advanced engineering.

1.2. Career Progression

Ishiguro's career progression reflects a steady ascent through academic and research institutions, marked by increasing responsibility and influence in the field of robotics. After completing his Ph.D., he began his academic career as an assistant at the Information Engineering Department of the Faculty of Engineering at Yamanashi University from 1991 to 1992. He then moved to Osaka University, serving as an assistant in the Systems Engineering Department of the Faculty of Engineering Science until 1994.

In 1994, he became an associate professor in the Information Engineering Department of the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University, a position he held until 1998. During this period, from 1998 to 1999, he also served as a visiting researcher at the University of California, San Diego. He returned to Kyoto University as an associate professor in the Social Informatics Department of the Graduate School of Informatics until 2000.

From 1999 to 2002, Ishiguro was a visiting researcher at the Intelligent Systems Research Laboratories of the International Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR). He then joined Wakayama University in 2000 as an associate professor in the Information and Communication Systems Department of the Faculty of Systems Engineering, becoming a full professor there in 2001, a role he maintained until 2002.

In 2002, he took on a visiting group leader role at ATR's Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories, which he held until 2011. The same year, he became a professor in the Department of Adaptive Machine Systems at the Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, a position he held until 2009. From 2009, he has been a professor in the Department of Systems Innovation at the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, and was appointed a Specially Appointed Professor from 2013 to 2016, and an Honorary Professor from 2017. He was also appointed an ATR Fellow in 2010. Since 2014, he has served as the Director of the ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Special Laboratory.

In addition to his academic roles, Ishiguro has held significant positions in industry and national projects. He became a Global Research Fellow at IDM Lab Sdn Bhd (Imagineering Institute) in 2015 and a Visiting Senior Scientist at Sony Group Corporation in 2017. In 2019, he became the Director of the Center for Co-creative Intelligence Systems at Osaka University's Institute for Advanced Study. His involvement in national initiatives includes serving as a Project Manager for the JST Moonshot Research and Development Program and a Theme Project Producer for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. In 2021, he co-founded AVITA Corporation and assumed the role of Representative Director and CEO. He also serves as a special advisor to Vstone Co., Ltd., an advisor for the next-generation robot development network RooBO, and was a final selection committee member for the 2nd Shin'ichi Hoshi Award.

2.1. Core Philosophy

Ishiguro's fundamental belief is that "robotics is philosophy itself." This principle drives his research, which aims to create robots that closely resemble human beings as a means to explore and understand the essence of human nature, consciousness, and existence. He emphasizes the critical importance of a robot's appearance, stating, "A human-like appearance gives a robot a strong feeling of presence." He believes that by developing machines that are physically and behaviorally indistinguishable from humans, at least during brief encounters, researchers can gain profound insights into what constitutes human identity and social interaction. This interdisciplinary approach blends engineering with philosophical inquiry, seeking answers to the question, "What is human?"

2.2. Notable Androids and Robots

Ishiguro's laboratory has developed a series of groundbreaking robots, each designed to advance the understanding of human-robot interaction and push the boundaries of realism.

One of his early and most notable creations is the Actroid, a humanoid robot known for its lifelike appearance and visible behaviors, such as facial movements. In July 2005, he unveiled the gynoid Repliee Q1Expo (also known as Repliee Q2), an adult female android. Ishiguro remarked on its development, "I have developed many robots before, but I soon realized the importance of its appearance. A human-like appearance gives a robot a strong feeling of presence. ... Repliee Q1Expo can interact with people. It can respond to people touching it. It's very satisfying, although we obviously have a long way to go yet." The realism of Repliee Q2 was so striking that it was recognized by Guinness World Records for its lifelike appearance.

Ishiguro also created an android that closely resembles himself, named the Geminoid. This remote-controlled android is used by Ishiguro to teach his classes at Osaka University, where he sometimes "scares" his students by making the Geminoid perform human-like movements such as blinking, "breathing," and fidgeting with its hands. The Geminoid was featured in James May's BBC2 documentary Man-Machine as part of his Big Ideas series in October 2008. The Geminoid was also recognized by Guinness World Records as a world record for a remote-controlled android.

Another significant development is the Telenoid R1, a minimalist telecommunication robot designed to convey human presence through simple, abstract movements, allowing for a more intimate and less distracting form of remote communication.

His autonomous conversational android, Erica, is designed to engage in natural dialogue and exhibit sophisticated human-like expressions. Erica represents a step towards creating robots capable of more complex social interactions.

In a unique collaboration with Kōdai-ji temple in Kyoto, Ishiguro and his team designed Mindar, a Buddhist android preacher. Unveiled in 2019, Mindar delivers sermons and has garnered significant attention from Western media for its innovative blend of technology and spirituality.

Ishiguro has also engaged in international collaborations, such as the co-development of the female robot "Yangyang" with a Chinese research facility in 2015, based on his belief that China would be the next major hub for robotics. Additionally, he created an android resembling the renowned Rakugo performer 3rd Katsura Beicho in 2012, with his son 5th Katsura Beidanji serving as the motion model. While technologically advanced, Beicho himself reportedly found the android "creepy." In 2022, Ishiguro also created an android version of Taro Kono, the Japanese Digital Minister.

2.3. Team OSAKA and RoboCup Achievements

Hiroshi Ishiguro was a key figure in "Team OSAKA," an influential industry-academia collaborative group dedicated to advancing robotics. This team included members from Ishiguro's laboratory at Osaka University, Kyoto University's Robo-Garage, Systec Akazawa, Vstone Co., Ltd., and the International Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR).

Team OSAKA achieved significant success in the RoboCup world championships, particularly in the Humanoid League's soccer competition. Their robot, named VisiON (Vision), demonstrated advanced autonomous capabilities. VisiON was designed to think and act independently without requiring human instruction, featuring bipedal locomotion and the ability to self-right after falling. Team OSAKA's VisiON robot secured first place in the RoboCup Humanoid League from 2004 to 2007, showcasing their expertise in developing highly capable humanoid robots for complex, dynamic environments.

2.4. Collaborations and Projects

Ishiguro's research extends through a variety of significant collaborations and projects that highlight the interdisciplinary and applied nature of his work. His partnership with Kōdai-ji temple resulted in the creation of the Buddhist android Mindar, which delivers sermons and has sparked global discussion on the intersection of technology and spirituality.

He has also extensively collaborated with theater groups, notably Youth Group, led by Oriza Hirata, to create and perform "android theater." These performances explore the boundaries between humans and machines within an artistic context, using androids as actors to prompt audiences to reflect on human identity and interaction.

On a national scale, Ishiguro plays a crucial role in major science and technology initiatives. He serves as a Project Manager for the JST Moonshot Research and Development Program, which aims to tackle ambitious societal challenges through disruptive innovation. Furthermore, he is a Theme Project Producer for the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo), where he contributes to shaping the themes and experiences related to future technologies and human-machine coexistence. His establishment of AVITA Corporation in 2021, where he serves as CEO, further exemplifies his commitment to bringing advanced robotics into practical applications, such as developing avatar workers.

3.1. University and Research Positions

Ishiguro has held numerous distinguished academic and research positions throughout his career. These include:

• Assistant, Information Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Yamanashi (1991-1992)
• Assistant, Systems Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering Science, Osaka University (1992-1994)
• Associate Professor, Information Engineering Department, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University (1994-1998)
• Visiting Researcher, University of California, San Diego (1998-1999)
• Associate Professor, Social Informatics Department, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University (1998-2000)
• Visiting Researcher, Intelligent Systems Research Laboratories, ATR (1999-2002)
• Associate Professor, Information and Communication Systems Department, Faculty of Systems Engineering, Wakayama University (2000-2001)
• Professor, Information and Communication Systems Department, Faculty of Systems Engineering, Wakayama University (2001-2002)
• Visiting Group Leader, Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories, 2nd Research Group, ATR (2002-2011)
• Professor, Department of Adaptive Machine Systems, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University (2002-2009)
• Professor, Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University (2009-present)
• ATR Fellow (2010-present)
• Visiting Group Leader, ATR Ishiguro Hiroshi Special Laboratory (2011-2013)
• Specially Appointed Professor, Osaka University (2013-2016)
• Director, ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Special Laboratory (2014-present)
• Global Research Fellow, IDM Lab Sdn Bhd (Imagineering Institute) (2015-present)
• Honorary Professor, Osaka University (2017-present)
• Visiting Senior Scientist, Sony Group Corporation (2017-present)
• Director, Center for Co-creative Intelligence Systems, Institute for Advanced Study, Osaka University (2019-present)

3.2. Leadership Roles

Beyond his academic appointments, Hiroshi Ishiguro has held significant leadership positions that highlight his influence and management capabilities within the field of robotics and broader scientific initiatives. He is the Director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory at Osaka University, a leading research center for advanced robotics. Since 2014, he has also served as the Director of the ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Special Laboratory, an institution dedicated to cutting-edge research in human-robot interaction.

In 2021, Ishiguro co-founded AVITA Corporation and assumed the role of Representative Director and CEO, demonstrating his commitment to commercializing research in avatar technology. His leadership extends to national projects, where he serves as a Project Manager for the JST Moonshot Research and Development Program, an ambitious initiative aimed at creating disruptive innovations for future society. Additionally, he is a Theme Project Producer for the 2025 Japan International Exposition (Osaka-Kansai Expo), contributing to the conceptualization and development of themes related to future technology and human coexistence. He has also served as a special advisor to Vstone Co., Ltd., and an advisor for the next-generation robot development network RooBO.

4.1. Books

Ishiguro has authored or co-authored a wide range of books exploring his research and philosophical insights:

• Communication Robots: Technologies for Developing Robots that Interact with People (2005, with Miyashita and Kanda)
• Introduction to Robotics Engineering: Fundamentals and Applications Learned Through Production (2007, with Asada and Yamato; 2nd edition 2019)
• Android Science: Robot Research for Understanding Humans (2007)
• Bakusho Mondai's Nippon no Kyoyo: When Robots Feel Human... Intelligent Robotics (2007, with Ota and Tanaka)
• GIS NEXT (No. 23) Special Feature: Space Seen by Robots (2008, with Nagai and others)
• What is a Robot? A Mirror Reflecting the Human Heart (2009)
• Do Robots Shed Tears? Between Film and Reality (2010, with Ota and Tanaka)
• What is it to Live? A Scientist and Philosopher Discuss Critical "Life" Thinking for Youth (2011)
• How to Create a "Human": I Became an Android (2011; paperback 2014)
• Building Androids (2011)
• Humans, Art, and Androids: Why I Make Robots (2012)
• Inside and Outside the "Shit Bag" (2013)
• Can Androids Become Human? (2015)
• Between Humans and Machines: Where is the Mind? (2016)
• Humans to Become Androids (2017, with Iida)
• Break the Frame and Live Yourself: Hints for Thinking and Acting on Your Own (2017)
• Laws of Humans and Robots (2017)
• Human? Machine? Sleep, Humanoid Robots, Unmanned Operation (2017, with Yanagisawa, Taniguchi, and Karatsu)
• Why I Make Robots: Designing Future Ways of Living from Daily Life (2018)
• What is Human? (2019)
• The Last Lecture Complete Edition: Robots and Humans in 1000 Years (2020)
• How Human Is Human?: The View from Robotics Research (English edition, 2020, translated by Tony Gonzalez)
• Robots and Humans: What is Human? (2021)
• A Robot Scientist Talks About "Life" and "Mind" (2021)
• Future Society Coexisting with Avatars (2023)

He was also featured in We Are Crazy Engineers (2010), an interview collection with 15 engineers and creators.

4.2. Academic Papers

Ishiguro has published numerous academic papers documenting his scientific contributions and advancements in human-robot interaction, android science, and artificial intelligence. One notable publication is "Android Science," which appeared in Scientific American in 2006, co-authored with Tim Hornyak. His research papers are extensively listed on the website of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory at Osaka University, covering a wide range of topics from the development of specific androids to theoretical explorations of human-robot interaction.

7.1. Film and Documentary Appearances

Ishiguro and his robotic creations have been featured in several films and documentaries, illustrating how his work has captured the public imagination and contributed to discussions about artificial intelligence and the future of human-robot relations.

• Mechanical Love (2007): This documentary prominently features Ishiguro and his work, exploring the intricate interrelationship between humans and robots.
• Surrogates (2009): Footage of Ishiguro and his Geminoid appears during the opening montage, which depicts the development of the "surrogates" in the film's fictional world. Ishiguro himself has stated that the future depicted in Surrogates is "not just a far-fetched sci-fi," implying a realistic possibility.
• Plug & Pray (2010): Ishiguro is one of the scientists interviewed in this documentary, which delves into the ethical and philosophical implications of artificial intelligence.
• Samsara (2011): This non-narrative documentary features various scenes, including glimpses of Ishiguro's robots, contributing to its exploration of humanity's relationship with the natural world and technology.
• Do You Trust This Computer? (2018): Ishiguro was interviewed for this documentary on artificial intelligence, where he interacted with one of his robots.
• Robolove (2019): This documentary focuses on the strategies of individuals involved in the creation of humanoid and android robots, featuring Ishiguro's insights.

7.2. Societal and Cultural Impact

The human-like robots developed by Hiroshi Ishiguro have had a profound societal and cultural impact, prompting widespread reflection on human identity, social interaction, and the ethical implications of advanced artificial beings. His creations, particularly the Geminoid, challenge conventional notions of presence and authenticity, leading many to ponder the nature of consciousness and what truly distinguishes humans from machines.

One notable instance of this impact was the creation of an android resembling the renowned Rakugo performer 3rd Katsura Beicho in 2012. While a technological feat, Beicho's own reaction, describing it as "creepy," highlighted the uncanny valley phenomenon and the complex emotional responses human-like robots can evoke. After Beicho's death, the android even became the subject of a joke on a television tribute program, illustrating its cultural resonance.

Ishiguro's work encourages public discourse on the nuanced social aspects of technological advancements. His robots compel society to consider how human-robot interactions might evolve, the potential for artificial beings to integrate into daily life, and the ethical responsibilities associated with creating increasingly sophisticated and autonomous entities. By pushing the boundaries of realism, Ishiguro's robots serve as a mirror, reflecting and challenging humanity's understanding of itself and its place in an increasingly technological world.