法人別リリース

2026 Japan Prize Laureates Announced

The Scienceand Technology Foundation of Japan — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0900

TOKYO, Jan. 22, 2026 /Kyodo JBN/ --
Japan Prize Foundation
The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2026 Japan Prize on January 21, 2026. Prof. Cynthia Dwork (USA) has received the Japan Prize in the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication. Prof. Shizuo Akira (Japan) and Prof. Zhijian "James" Chen (USA) have received the Japan Prize in the field of Life Sciences.

- Field Eligible for the Award: Electronics, Information, and Communication
Image of Prof. Cynthia Dwork: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202601142440/_prw_PI1fl_4D06A8QY.jpg

- Field Eligible for the Award: Life Sciences
Image of Prof. Shizuo Akira: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202601142440/_prw_PI2fl_En28lIUM.jpg

Image of Prof. Zhijian "James" Chen: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202601142440/_prw_PI3fl_n3HT0jm9.jpg

For this year’s Japan Prize, Prof. Dwork is being recognized for her contribution to leading research for building an ethical digital society, including differential privacy and fairness. Prof. Akira and Prof. Chen are being honored for their discovery of the nucleic acid sensing mechanism by the innate immune system.

For the 2026 Japan Prize, the Foundation asked approximately 16,000 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world to nominate researchers working in this year’s eligible fields. The Foundation received 107 nominations for the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication, and 185 nominations for the field of Life Sciences. This year’s winners were selected from a total of 292 nominees.

About the Japan Prize
The establishment of the Japan Prize in 1981 was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognized award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world. With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983.

The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity. Researchers in all fields of science and technology are eligible for the award, with two fields selected each year in consideration of current trends in scientific and technological development. In principle, one individual in each field is recognized with the award, and receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize. Each presentation ceremony is attended by the reigning Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society.

For more information, please visit the official website: https://www.japanprize.jp/en/index.html

2025 Japan Prize Laureates Announced

The Scienceand Technology Foundation of Japan — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:00:00 +0900

TOKYO, Jan. 22, 2025 /Kyodo JBN/ --
Japan Prize Foundation
The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2025 Japan prize on January 22, 2025. Prof. Russell Dean Dupuis of the USA has been awarded the Japan Prize in the fields of Materials Sciences and Production, and Prof. Carlos M. Duarte of Spain has been awarded the Japan Prize in the fields of Biological Production, Ecology/Environment.

- Field Eligible for the Award: Materials Sciences and Production
Prof. Russell Dean Dupuis
Image: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202501152911/_prw_PI1fl_tS7bGu5Q.jpg

- Field Eligible for the Award: Biological Production, Ecology/Environment
Prof. Carlos M. Duarte
Image: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202501152911/_prw_PI2fl_75vq5Xm9.jpg

For this year’s Japan Prize, Prof. Dupuis is being recognized for his distinguished contributions to the development of metalorganic chemical vapor deposition technology for compound semiconductor electronic and optoelectronic devices, and pioneering contribution to its large-scale commercialization; and Prof. Duarte is being recognized for his contribution to the understanding of marine ecosystems in a changing Earth, especially through pioneering research on Blue Carbon.

For the 2025 Japan Prize, the Foundation asked approximately 15,500 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world to nominate researchers working in this year’s fields. It received 149 nominations for the fields of Materials Sciences and Production, and 72 nominations for the fields of Biological Production, Ecology/Environment. This year’s winners were selected from a total of 221 nominees.

About the Japan Prize
The establishment of the Japan Prize in 1981 was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognized award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world. With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983.

The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity. Researchers in all fields of science and technology are eligible for the award, with two fields selected each year in consideration of current trends in scientific and technological development. In principle, one individual in each field is recognized with the award, and receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize. Each Award Ceremony is attended by the reigning Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society.

For more information, please visit the official website: https://www.japanprize.jp/en/index.html

2024 Japan Prize Laureates Announced

The Scienceand Technology Foundation of Japan — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 15:00:00 +0900

TOKYO, Jan. 23, 2024 /Kyodo JBN/ --
Japan Prize Foundation
The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2024 Japan prize on January 23, 2024. Prof. Sir Brian J. Hoskins (UK) and Prof. John Michael Wallace (USA) are co-winners of the Japan Prize in the fields of Resources, Energy, the Environment, and Social Infrastructure, and Prof. Ronald M. Evans (USA) has been awarded the Japan Prize in the fields of Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Science.

- Fields of Resources, Energy, the Environment, and Social Infrastructure

Prof. Sir Brian J. Hoskins
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202401155280/_prw_PI4fl_MnpACdsk.jpg

Prof. John Michael Wallace
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202401155280/_prw_PI3fl_RS9kF6a4.jpg

- Fields of Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Science

Prof. Ronald M. Evans
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202401155280/_prw_PI2fl_YIMVuEE8.jpg

For this year’s Japan Prize, Prof. Hoskins and Prof. Wallace are being recognized for their distinguished contributions to Establishment of a scientific foundation for understanding and predicting extreme weather events, and Prof. Evans for his Discovery of the nuclear hormone receptor family and its application to drug development.

For the 2024 Japan Prize, the Foundation asked approximately 15,500 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world to nominate researchers working in this year’s fields. It received 130 nominations for the fields of Resources, Energy, the Environment, and Social Infrastructure, and 198 nominations for the fields of Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Science. This year’s winners were selected from that total of 328 candidates.

About the Japan Prize
The establishment of the Japan Prize in 1981 was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognized award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world. With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983.

The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity. Researchers in all fields of science and technology are eligible for the award, with two fields selected each year in consideration of current trends in scientific and technological development. In principle, one individual in each field is recognized with the award, and receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize. Each award ceremony is attended by the current Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society.

2023 Japan Prize Laureates Announced

The Scienceand Technology Foundation of Japan — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 15:00:00 +0900

TOKYO, Jan. 24, 2023 /Kyodo JBN/ --
Japan Prize Foundation
The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2023 Japan Prize on January 24, 2023. Prof. Masataka Nakazawa and Mr. Kazuo Hagimoto, both of Japan, are co-winners of the Japan Prize in the fields of Electronics, Information, and Communication, and Prof. Gero Miesenboeck of Austria and Prof. Karl Deisseroth of the United States are co-winners of the Japan Prize in the field of Life Science.

- Fields of Electronics, Information, and Communication

Prof. Masataka Nakazawa https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202301122017/_prw_PI1fl_6Rl1J1P6.jpg

Mr. Kazuo Hagimoto https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202301122017/_prw_PI2fl_92oy84V5.jpg

- Field of Life Science

Prof. Gero Miesenboeck https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202301122017/_prw_PI3fl_umu1Iz4Y.jpg

Prof. Karl Deisseroth https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M000319/202301122017/_prw_PI4fl_NHukgJH3.jpg

For this year’s Japan Prize, Prof. Nakazawa and Mr. Hagimoto are being recognized for their distinguished contributions to global long-distance, high-capacity optical fiber network through the development of semiconductor laser pumped optical amplifier, while Prof. Miesenboeck and Prof. Deisseroth are being recognized for their development of methods that use genetically addressable light-sensitive membrane proteins to unravel neural circuit functions.

For the 2023 Japan Prize, the Foundation asked approximately 15,500 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world to nominate researchers working in this year’s fields. It received 123 nominations in the fields of Electronics, Information, and Communication, and 204 nominations for the field of Life Science. This year’s winners were selected from that total of 327 candidates.

About the Japan Prize The establishment of the Japan Prize in 1981 was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognized award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world. With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983.

The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world, who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity. Researchers in all fields of science and technology are eligible for the award, with two fields selected each year in consideration of current trends in scientific and technological development. In principle, one individual in each field is recognized with the award, and receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize. Each Award Ceremony is attended by the current Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society.

2022 Japan Prize Laureates Announced

The Scienceand Technology Foundation of Japan — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +0900

TOKYO, Jan. 25, 2022 / Kyodo JBN/ --
Japan Prize Foundation
The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2022 Japan prize on January 25. Prof. Katalin Kariko (Hungary/USA) and Prof. Drew Weissman (USA) are co-winners of the Japan Prize in the field of “Materials and Production,” and Prof. Christopher Field (USA) has been awarded the Japan Prize in the field of “Biological Production, Ecology/Environment.”

- In the field of Materials and Production

Prof. Katalin Kariko
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202201075829-O3-9jI7uI4q

Prof. Drew Weissman
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202201075829-O2-U7e24Ing

- In the field of Biological Production, Ecology/Environment

Prof. Christopher Field
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202201075829-O1-23624s9r

With this year’s prize, Kariko and Weissman are being recognized for their pioneering research contributing to the development of mRNA vaccines, and Field is being recognized for his outstanding contributions to the estimation of global biospheric productivity and climate change science using advanced formulas based on observation.

This year, the Foundation asked approximately 15,500 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world to nominate researchers working in this year’s fields, and it received 208 nominations in the field of Materials and Production, and 138 nominations for the field of Biological Production, Ecology/Environment. This year’s winners were selected from that total of 346 candidates.

About the Japan Prize
The establishment of the Japan Prize was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognized award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world. With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983.

The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity. Researchers in all fields of science and technology are eligible for the award, with two fields selected each year in consideration of current trends in scientific and technological development. In principle, one individual in each field is recognized with the award, and receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize. Each Award Ceremony is attended by the current Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society.

2021 Japan Prize Laureates Announced

The Scienceand Technology Foundation of Japan — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 15:00:00 +0900

TOKYO, Jan. 29, 2021 /Kyodo JBN/ --
2021 Japan Prize Laureates Announced
The winners of the 2021 Japan Prize were announced on January 29 by the Japan Prize Foundation and its president, Hiroshi Komiyama. The newest laureates are Australian researcher Prof. Martin Andrew Green, honored for his work in the field of “Resources, Energy, the Environment, and Social Infrastructure,” and U.S. researchers Prof. Bert Vogelstein and Dr. Robert A. Weinberg, joint winners for their work in the field of “Medical Science and Medicinal Science.”

- In the field of Resources, Energy, the Environment, and Social Infrastructure

Prof. Martin Andrew Green:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202101139691-O1-aQv3J84r

- In the field of Medical Science and Medicinal Science

Prof. Bert Vogelstein:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202101139691-O2-mi5iCHaU

Dr. Robert A. Weinberg:
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202101139691-O3-nF44s3aw

Prof. Green is being honored for his work in developing high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic devices, while Prof. Vogelstein and Dr. Weinberg are being honored for their pioneering contributions to the development of a multi-step carcinogenesis model, and to the model’s application and its impact on improving cancer treatment.

Approximately 14,000 prominent scientists and engineers from Japan and other countries were approached for nominations for this year’s Japan Prize, and they nominated 142 individuals in the field of Resources, Energy, the Environment, and Social Infrastructure, and 243 individuals in the field of Medical Science and Medicinal Science. This year’s Japan Prize laureates were selected from among those 385 nominations.

Please visit:
https://www.japanprize.jp/en/index.html

Source: Japan Prize Foundation

Japan Prize Foundation Announces 2020 Japan Prize Laureates

The Scienceand Technology Foundation of Japan — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 17:00:00 +0900

TOKYO, Feb. 5, 2020 /Kyodo JBN/ --
Japan Prize Foundation Announces 2020 Japan Prize Laureates
On February 4, 2020, the Japan Prize Foundation announced the 2020 (36th) Japan Prize Laureates. This year, the prize fields were "Electronics, Information, Communication" and "Life Science." Prof. Robert G. Gallager (United States) was chosen for the field of "Electronics, Information, Communication," and Dr. Svante Paabo (Sweden) was chosen for the field of "Life Science."

Prof. Gallager who was chosen for the field of "Electronics, Information, Communication" is being honored for his "pioneering contribution to information and coding theory." On the other hand, Dr. Paabo who was chosen for the field of "Life Science" is being honored for his "pioneering contributions to paleoanthropology through decoding ancient human genome sequences."

In April, the laureates will be invited to Japan for the "Japan Prize Week" where various events are scheduled.

The Presentation Ceremony is scheduled for April 15 at the National Theatre of Japan, and the Commemorative Lectures are scheduled for April 16 at the Ito International Research Center, the University of Tokyo.

At the Presentation Ceremony, each laureate will receive a certificate of merit and a prize medal. A cash prize of 50 million yen will also be presented to the winner of each prize category.

Robert G. Gallager, Sc.D
Photo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202001155710-O1-L7Ke23X8
Nationality: United States of America
Date of Birth: May 29, 1931 (88)
Affiliation: Professor Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Svante Paabo, Ph.D.
Photo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202001155710-O2-cvzr4b8D
Nationality: Sweden
Date of Birth: April 20, 1955 (64)
Affiliation: Director, Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

About the Japan Prize Foundation

The creation of the Japan Prize was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to "express gratitude to international society by establishing a prestigious international award in the fields of science and technology." Supported by numerous donations, the Japan Prize was established in 1983 with Cabinet endorsement.

The Japan Prize honors those who have made significant achievements that contribute to the peace and prosperity of mankind, based not only on contributions to the advancement of science and technology but also on social contributions to our lives.

The award covers all fields of science and technology and takes into consideration the developments in science and technology. Every year, the foundation designates two fields for the award presentation.

One award is given for each field as a general rule. Each laureate receives a certificate of merit and a prize medal. A cash prize of 50 million yen is also presented to each prize category’s winner. The foundation is headed by President Hiroshi Komiyama.

Please visit:
https://www.japanprize.jp/en/index.html

Source: Japan Prize Foundation