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Masahiro Hara (, Hepburn: , born on August 8, 1957) is a Japanese engineer and Hosei University graduate who is best known for inventing the QR code in 1994.
In 2021, QR codes were being used to book and track COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. Hara has stated that he would like to develop QR codes for additional medical purposes, including imaging such as X-ray or electrocardiogram data. Hara still works for Denso as of 2024.
In October 2024, Masahiro Hara made his first visit to France to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his invention. He was invited by his friend, contemporary artist qargo, one of the pioneers in incorporating QR codes into art. Hara was the guest of honor at the 10th edition of the 1to1 Experience Client event in Biarritz, held from October 1st to 3rd, where he shared the story of the QR code's creation. Hara highlighted how QR codes have transformed various sectors, from facilitating over 2 billion daily payments in China to being used for electronic ticketing and everyday smartphone applications.
During the event, qargo unveiled a special artwork dedicated to Hara to mark this technological milestone. Hara humorously mentioned that he can still decode a QR code manually using just paper and pencil.
He also discussed the future potential of QR codes, envisioning colored versions capable of storing up to 7,000 characters, including short videos, directly viewable on the code.
A world QR code day was created on August 8, in honor of the date of birth of its inventor.
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