Masao Okazaki is a graphic designer and artist.

Born in Brooklyn and a Star Trek fan since 1966, Okazaki's main work is The Starfleet Museum, a 'historical record' of ships used in the Earth-Romulan War and the early Federation era. His design for a 23rd century starbase was requested for use in the novel series Star Trek: Vanguard, being translated into a CGI version by Doug Drexler, who commented upon the design, "I dig Vanguard station because it looks appropriately old school, while embracing the design directions of the original feature films!" [1]. The design was also later adapted by Michael Okuda and CBS Digital as Starbase 6 in the remastered version of "The Ultimate Computer".

Okazaki received a credit of Technical Consultant for the episode, of which he was exceedingly proud, "This was something I had never imagined. Thanks to the inclusion, I am now credited as "creative consultant" on the IMDB page of Star Trek, my favorite TV show of all time. When I was watching Trek on a black and white TV set when I was a kid, I would never have guessed that would happen." (Star Trek Magazine, issue 162#35, p.81).

In addition, Okazaki designed the USS Sagittarius, an Archer-class starship seen on the cover of the Vanguard novel Reap the Whirlwind.

Okazaki currently lives in Tokio, Japan as a manuscript editor and English teacher for a medical school.

References

• Masao Okazaki's Vanguard Station at Drex Files
• Vanguard: Form and Substance, Star Trek Magazine, issue 162#35, pp.76-81

External link

• Masao Okazaki at the Internet Movie Database