Dr. Takao Watanabe earned his master’s degree in solid-state physics from Keio University in March 1983 and joined Hitachi’s Central Research Laboratory in April 1983. In 1988, he earned a scholarship from Hitachi to study at Yale University, where he obtained a master’s degree in 1989, focusing on artificial intelligence, image processing, and semiconductor design. He became a senior researcher at Hitachi in 1995. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in 1997, he gradually lost his vision but continued his research with Hitachi’s support. In 1999, he earned a Ph.D. from Keio University for work on high-speed, low-power semiconductors for AI and computer graphics. He received a patent award in 2000 for circuit technology accelerating DRAM. In 2016, he won the Best Paper Award from The Society of Photography and Imaging of Japan for research on recording ukiyo-e prints on quartz glass readable after heating at 1000°C. In 2020, he received the MIP Award from 'isee! Working Awards' by Next Vision. He retired from Hitachi in April 2018 but continued as a senior employee until July 2023. Currently, he is a member of a volunteer group, 'I-mirai' and a supporting member of NPO 'Turtle', helping people with disabilities continue working. His dream is to create a website for visually impaired Japanese science and engineering researchers to share information and tools they develop.