PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Yuichi Ohta

Also known as 大田 友一

Yuichi Ohta is a computer vision researcher whose work connects image understanding with interactive 3D media. He studied engineering at Kyoto University, then joined the University of Tsukuba, where he rose from research associate to professor and later served as provost and vice president. His work spans knowledge-based scene interpretation and parallel computer vision, computer vision as 3D media, and free-viewpoint soccer video. He served on IAPR's Governing Board from 2003 to 2012, and IAPR elected him a Fellow in 2004. As of October 2026, he is a professor emeritus at Tsukuba.

Badges

Timeline

  1. 1968–1980

    Kyoto engineering degrees

    He studies electronics at Kyoto University from 1968 to 1972, earns a master's degree there in 1974, and completes a PhD in 1980.

  2. 1978–1992

    From Kyoto to Tsukuba

    He joins Kyoto University's Faculty of Engineering as a research associate in 1978. He moves to the University of Tsukuba as an assistant professor in 1981, becomes an associate professor in 1987, and reaches professor in 1992.

  3. 1985–1997

    Knowledge-based vision and 3D media

    In 1985, he publishes the book *Knowledge-based Interpretation of Outdoor Natural Color Scenes*. In 1991, he contributes as a co-investigator to a grant project on symbolic image recognition and publishes “Approaches to Parallel Computer Vision.” In 1997, he publishes *3D Image Media and Computer Vision*, arguing that computer vision can create a 3D image medium that connects the real world and people through computers.

  4. 2003–2012

    IAPR Governing Board

    He serves on IAPR's Governing Board from 2003 to 2012.

  5. 2004

    An IAPR Fellowship

    IAPR elects him a Fellow in 2004 for contributions to computer vision and vision-based image media, and for service to the association.

  6. 2004–2007

    Free-viewpoint soccer video

    From 2004 to 2006, he works on a Tsukuba project for network delivery and interactive presentation of free-viewpoint video. In 2007, his paper *Live 3D Video in Soccer Stadium* appears in the International Journal of Computer Vision.

  7. 2009–2015

    Provost and vice president

    He serves as provost of Tsukuba's Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering from 2009 to 2012. He serves as the university's vice president and executive director from 2013 to 2015.

  8. As of October 2026

    Professor emeritus at Tsukuba

    He is a professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba.

Career

  1. Since 1981University of TsukubaAssistant Professor, Associate Professor
  2. 2003–2012International Association for Pattern RecognitionGoverning Board member
  3. 1978–1981Kyoto UniversityResearch Associate

Education

  1. 1980Kyoto UniversityPhD
  2. 1974Kyoto UniversityMaster's degree
  3. 1972Kyoto University

From the biography.

  1. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes University of Tsukuba. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  2. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes University of Tsukuba. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.
  3. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes Kyoto University. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  4. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI each year from 1955 to 2025, tracing the shift from university labs to companies.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Yuichi Ohta yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. TRIOS Researchers Information trios.tsukuba.ac.jp. Checked 20 October 2026.
  2. Multi-Dimensional Parallel Processing of Symbolic Image Recognition based on Constructive Inference kaken.nii.ac.jp. Checked 20 October 2026.
  3. 3D Image Media and Computer Vision -From CV as Robot Technology to CV as Media Technology- fujipress.jp. Checked 20 October 2026.
  4. Chronological List of IAPR Fellows – International Association for Pattern Recognition iapr.org. Checked 20 October 2026.
  5. TRIOS Researchers Information: Articles by OHTA Yuichi trios.tsukuba.ac.jp. Checked 20 October 2026.