Born in Aichi, Japan, in 1962, Iwai graduated from the Fine Arts Department of the Graduate School at the University of Tsukuba, studying Plastic Arts and Mixed Media. While still a student, his Time Stratum II was awarded the Grand Prize at the 17 th Contemporary Japanese Art Exhibition in 1985, making him the youngest recipient of the prize. Iwai has taken on a wide range of interactive art, including Bouncing Totoro, which was exhibited at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, and the Tenori-on, an electronic music instrument co-developed with Yamaha Corporation. In recent years he has also been producing items such as handmade toys and picture books for children.