Japan Prize

Director General, Yamashita Institute for Ornithology

Principal Fellow, Center for Research and Development Strategy
Japan Science and Technology Agency
Professor Emeritus The University of Tokyo

Advisor to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Background and Rationale:
Today, our world is in the midst of rapidly developing information and knowledge-based society. The advancement of essential technologies in electronics, information and communication have brought about dramatic improvement in productivity and have also revolutionized the speed, efficiency and the scope of information exchange, thereby contributing significantly to the evolution of human society through creation of new cultures and lifestyles. In addition, these advancements are also playing a significant role in the field of energy management by responding to the ever-increasing energy consumption.

Amid such changes, it is anticipated that further advancement of these technologies will not only improve its reliability and security but will also enable us to respond to new social issues, thereby contributing greatly to the sustainable development of human society.

 Achievement eligible:
The 2014 Japan Prize in the field of “Electronics, Information and Communication” is awarded to individual(s) who has made significant contributions to society by achieving scientific and technological breakthroughs in creating new industries and improving productivity, developing essential technologies and systems that contribute to the realization of information and knowledge-based society, and developing fundamental science and technologies that have high potential to promote further advancement of our society.

Background and Rationale:
In recent years, the drastic progress of life science has contributed significantly in understanding the complex functions of biological life including us human beings. Most notably, with revolutionary advancement in life science research technologies, things which were once considered technologically impossible, such as the mapping of genetic blueprints, are now becoming possible one after another. As a result, we are now making new discoveries that will significantly change our concept of life in the levels of molecules, cells, tissues, organs and whole body.

It is anticipated that such progress in understanding of life science will contribute towards the welfare of mankind by unlocking new possibilities in life forms including us human beings and help lead the way for the creation and promotion of future medicine.

Achievement eligible:
The 2014 Japan Prize in the field of “Life Science” is awarded to individual(s) who has made significant contributions to society by achieving scientific and technological breakthroughs of discovering new life phenomena, elucidating vital functions, developing revolutionary analysis technologies, and creating future medicine.

Background and Rationale:
Discoveries and inventions of new materials with unprecedented functions as well as advanced production technologies have brought about numerous technological innovations, thereby contributing greatly to the advancement of society.

Development of materials with new functions such as semiconductors, natural products, nano-materials and new catalysts, and also new production technologies such as computer-aided design and manufacturing and measuring techniques have all contributed in creating highly developed and innovative industries of today.

In order to make effective use of finite resources, protect the environment and maintain the continuous prosperity of our society, further development of materials with new functions and epoch-making production technologies have come to be indispensable.

Achievement eligible:
The 2013 Japan Prize in the field of “Materials and Production” is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to society by achieving momentous scientific and technological breakthroughs that improve the quality and safety of people’s lives by designing and developing materials with new functions, or advanced production technologies that will create new products and industries.

Background and rationale:
The existence of human being on Earth is completely dependent on the continuous and diverse use of biological resources. In recent years, however, the biological environment of our planet which fosters indispensable biological resources is deteriorating rapidly.

Despite the advent of many technological innovations that have dramatically increased our food production capacity, the human race is set to outgrow that capacity at an even greater pace.

In order to protect the precious biological environment in our global society, there is an ever growing need for development of environmental technologies for conservation of biodiversity and creation of sustainable and environmentally-conscious biological production technologies.

Achievement eligible:
The 2013 Japan Prize in the field of “Biological Production and Biological Environment” is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the welfare of society by achieving momentous scientific and technological breakthroughs in development of technologies that will measure, evaluate and respond to the effects of human activity on the environment, thereby helping to protect and conserve biodiversity and biological environment, or eradicate hunger and poverty by improving biological productivity of food and other useful materials.