Japan Prize


The Japan Prize is awarded to people from all parts of the world whose "original and outstanding achievements in science and technology are recognized as having advanced the frontiers of knowledge and served the cause of peace and prosperity for mankind." The Prize is presented by the Japan Prize Foundation. Since its inception in 1985, the Foundation has awarded 81 people from 13 countries.
The Japan Prize consists of a certificate, a commemorative medal and a cash award of ¥50 million. No discrimination is made as to nationality, occupation, race, or gender. Only living persons may be named. Every November, the Japan Prize Foundation selects two fields for the award according to current trends in science and technology. The nomination and selection process takes about one year. The laureates, one from each field, are announced in January.
The prestigious prize presentation ceremony is held in the presence of the Emperor and the Empress of Japan. According to his book Dancing Naked in the Mind Field, Kary Mullis, 1993 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, addressed Empress Michiko as sweetie when being awarded the prize in 1993 for the development of the polymerase chain reaction. The events are also attended by the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the House of Councillors, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, foreign ambassadors to Japan and about a thousand other distinguished guests, including eminent academics, researchers and representatives of political, business and press circles. The 2014 Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony was held on April 23 at the National Theatre in Tokyo.
At present the international prize is often considered one of the most prestigious awards in science and technology fields after the Nobel Prize. According to an article in the scientific journal Nature Immunology, the prize is one of the prestigious science awards that recognize immunology as well as Nobel Prize, Sweden, Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, USA, Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, Germany, Canada Gairdner International Award, Canada, Wolf Prize, Israel, and Crafoord Prize, Sweden.

Background

The creation of the Japan Prize was motivated by the desire to express Japan's gratitude to international society. This plan was supported with the funds donated by Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic Corporation. He was the first chairman of the Japan Prize Preparatory Foundation.
In 1982 the Japan Prize Preparatory Foundation is established and then the establishment of the Japan Prize is endorsed by the Cabinet. In 1985 The 1st Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony is held in Tokyo.

Laureates

YearNameNationalityCitation
2020Robert G. Gallagerfor pioneering contribution to information and coding theory.
2020Svante Pääbofor pioneering contributions to paleoanthropology through decoding ancient human genome sequences.
2019Yoshio Okamotofor leading contributions to precision synthesis of helical polymers and development of practical chiral materials for separating chiral drugs.
2019Rattan Lalfor the sustainable soil management for global food security and mitigation of climate change.
2018Akira Yoshinofor the development of lithium ion batteries.
2018Max Dale Cooper
Jacques Miller
for the discovery of B and T lymphocyte lineages and its impact on understanding disease pathology and therapeutic development.
2017Emmanuelle Charpentier
Jennifer Doudna
for deciphering the molecular details of the type II bacterial immune system CRISPR -Cas and the creation of the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system, a truly revolutionary technique in genetic engineering, far more economical and faster than those previously available.
2017Adi Shamirfor his significant contributions to the fields of cryptography and computer science.
2016Hideo Hosonofor the creation of unconventional inorganic materials with novel electronic functions based on nano-structure engineering.
2016Steven D. Tanksleyfor his contribution to modern crop breeding through research on development of molecular genetic analysis.
2015Yutaka Takahasi :ja:高橋裕 |for the contribution to development of innovative concept on river basin management and reduction of water-related disasters.
2015Theodore Friedmann
Alain Fischer :fr:Alain Fischer|
for the proposal of the concept of gene therapy and its clinical applications.
2014Yasuharu Suematsufor pioneering research on semiconductor lasers for high-capacity long-distance optical fiber communication.
2014C. David Allisfor the discovery of histone modifications as fundamental regulators of gene expression.
2013C. Grant Willson :de:C. Grant Willson|
Jean M. J. Fréchet
for development of chemically amplified resist polymer materials for innovative semiconductor manufacturing process.
2013John Frederick Grasslefor contribution to marine environmental conservation through research on ecology and biodiversity of deep-sea organisms.
2012Janet Rowley
Brian Druker
Nicholas Lydon

for the development of a new therapeutic drug targeting cancer-specific molecules.
2012Masato Sagawafor the developing the world's highest performing Nd-Fe-B type permanent magnet and contributing to energy conservation.
2011Kenneth Thompson
Dennis Ritchie
for writing the Unix operating system.
2011Tadamitsu Kishimoto
Toshio Hirano
for the discovery of interleukin-6.
2010Shun-ichi Iwasakifor contributions to high-density magnetic recording technology by the development of a perpendicular magnetic recording method.
2010Peter Vitousekfor contributions to solving global environmental issues based on the analysis of nitrogen and other substances’ cycles.
2009Dennis L. Meadowsfor contributions in the area of "Transformation towards a sustainable society in harmony with nature".
2009David E. Kuhlfor contributions in the area of "Technological integration of medical science and engineering". Specifically, tomographic imaging in nuclear medicine.
2008Vinton Gray Cerf
Robert E. Kahn
for the creation of network architecture and communication protocol for the Internet.
2008Victor A. McKusickfor the establishment of medical genetics and contributions to its development.
2007Albert Fert
Peter Grünberg
for the discovery of Giant Magneto-Resistance and its contribution to development of innovative spin-electronics devices.
2007Peter Shaw Ashtonfor contributions to the conservation of tropical forest.
2006John Houghtonfor pioneering research on atmospheric structure and composition based on his satellite observation technology and for promotion of international assessments of climate change.
2006Akira Endofor the discovery of the Statins and their development.
2005Makoto Nagaofor pioneering contributions to Natural Language Processing and Intelligent Image Processing.
2005Masatoshi Takeichi
Erkki Ruoslahti
for fundamental contribution in elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Adhesion.
2004Kenichi Honda
Akira Fujishima
for pioneering work on photochemical catalysis and its application for the environment.
2004Keith J. Sainsburyfor contributions to the understanding of shelf ecosystems and their sustainable utilization.
2004John H. Lawtonfor observational, experimental and theoretical achievements for the scientific understanding and conservation of Biodiversity.
2003Benoît Mandelbrot
James A. Yorke
for the creation of universal concepts in complex systems - Chaos and Fractals.
2003Seiji Ogawafor the discovery of the principle for functional magnetic resonance imaging.
2002Tim Berners-Leefor advancement of civilization through invention, implementation and deployment of the World Wide Web.
2002Anne McLaren
Andrzej K. Tarkowski
for pioneering work on mammalian embryonic development.
2001John B. Goodenoughfor the discovery of environmentally benign electrode materials for high energy density rechargeable lithium batteries.
2001Timothy R. Parsonsfor the contributions to the development of Biological/Fisheries Oceanography and for conservation of fishery resources and marine environment.
2000Ian L. McHargfor the establishment of an ecological City Planning Process and a proposal of a Land Use Evaluation System.
2000Kimishige Ishizakafor the discovery of Immunoglobulin E and mechanisms of IgE-mediated allergic reactions.
1999W. Wesley Petersonfor the establishment of coding theory for reliable digital communication, broadcasting and storage.
1999Jack L. Strominger
Don C. Wiley
for the elucidation of the three dimensional structures of class I and class II human histocompatibility antigens and their bound peptides.
1998Leo Esakifor the creation and realization of the concept of man-made superlattice crystals which led to generation of new materials with useful applications.
1998Jozef S. Schell
Marc C. E. Van Montagu
for the establishment of the theory and method of the production of transgenic plants.
1997Takashi Sugimura
Bruce N. Ames
for the contribution to establishment of fundamental concept on causes of cancer.
1997Joseph F. Engelberger
Hiroyuki Yoshikawa :ja:吉川弘之|
for the establishment of the Robot Industry and Creation of a Techno-Global Paradigm.
1996Charles K. Kao for pioneering research on wide-band, low-loss optical fiber communications.
1996Masao Itofor the elucidation of the functional principles and neural mechanisms of the cerebellum.
1995Nick Holonyak, Jr.for outstanding contributions to research and practical applications of light emitting diodes and lasers through pioneering achievements in the understanding of physical principles and in the process technology of intermetallic compound semiconductors.
1995Edward F. Kniplingfor pioneering contributions in the development of Integrated Pest Management by the Sterile Insect Release Method and other biological approaches.
1994William Hayward Pickeringfor inspirational leadership in unmanned lunar and planetary exploration, and for pioneering achievements in the development of spacecraft and deep space communications.
1994Arvid Carlssonfor the discovery of dopamine as a neurotransmitter and clarification of its role in mental and motor functions and their disorders.
1993Frank Pressfor the development of modern seismology and advancement of international cooperation in disaster science.
1993Kary B. Mullisfor the development of the polymerase chain reaction.
1992Gerhard Ertlfor the contributions to the new development of the chemistry and physics of solid surfaces.
1992Ernest John Christopher Polgefor the discovery of a method of the cryopreservation of semen and embryos in farm animals.
1991Jacques-Louis Lionsfor the contributions to analysis and control of distributed systems, and to promotion of applied analysis.
1991John Julian Wildfor the development of ultrasound imaging in medicine.
1990Marvin Minskyfor the establishment of an academic field named Artificial Intelligence and the proposal of fundamental theories in that field.
1990William Jason Morgan
Dan McKenzie
Xavier Le Pichon

for the initiation of the theory of plate tectonics and contributions to its development.
1989Frank Sherwood Rowlandfor the studies on the mechanisms of stratospheric ozone depletion by chlorofluorocarbons.
1989Elias James Coreyfor the pioneering contributions to the syntheses of prostaglandins and their related compounds which are of great therapeutic value.
1988Georges Vendryesfor the establishment of fast breeder reactor technology.
1988Donald Henderson
Isao Arita
Frank Fenner

for the eradication of Smallpox.
1988Luc Montagnier
Robert C. Gallo
for the discovery of the AIDS-causing virus and development of diagnostic methods.
1987Henry M. Beachell
Gurdev S. Khush
for the development of the IR8 and IR36 strains for rice breeding strategies geared to the tropical and subtropical zones.
1987Theodore H. Maimanfor the realization of the world's first laser.
1986David Turnbullfor pioneering contributions to materials science with impact on new materials technology such as amorphous solids.
1986Willem J. Kolfffor research and development of artificial organs and their relevant technology.
1985John R. Piercefor outstanding achievement in the field of electronics and communications technologies.
1985Ephraim Katchalski-Katzirfor outstanding achievement in basic theory in the field of immobilized enzymes and their practical applications.