ARK Mori Building, East Wing 35th Floor, 1-12-32
Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6035, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5545-0551 Fax: +81-3-5545-0554

No. 55Jan. 2016www.japanprize.jp

2016 Japan Prize Laureates Announced
Dr. Hideo Hosono, who has opened new horizons in material science and immensely
contributed to the advancement of basic science and industry, and
Dr. Steven D. Tanksley, who has transformed intuition and experience based traditional crop
breeding into science and made significant contributions to stable food production in the world“Materials and Production” field“Biological Production and Biological Environment” field

Dr. Hideo Hosono

Dr. Steven D. Tanksley

Professor, Materials and Structures Laboratory,
Founding Director, Materials Research Center for Element Strategy,
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Japan

Professor Emeritus,
Cornell University
USA

The Japan Prize Foundation has decided to award the 2016 (32nd) Japan Prize to Dr. Hideo Hosono of Japan and Dr. Steven D. Tanksleyfrom the United States.
Dr. Honoso, the winner in the “Materials and Production” field, was recognized for his “creation of unconventional inorganic materials
with novel electronic functions based on nanostructure engineering.” Dr. Hosono invented a series of novel materials that defy
traditionally-held ideas about elements and compounds and helped open up new horizons in material science, from basic science toindustrial applications. Among many of his achievements, energy-efficient liquid crystal displays used in personal and tablet computersand large organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for televisions are just a few of the notable examples of commercial applications
found in our daily life.
In the “Biological Production and Biological Environment” field, Dr. Tanksley was recognized for his “contribution to modern crop
breeding through research on development of molecular genetic analysis.” He introduced molecular genetic analysis to crop breeding that
had depended on the intuition and experience of researchers, and led to the development of crop breeding technology based on science.
Dr. Tanksley’s highly original approach inspired researchers around the world and led to the development of new varieties that are, forexample, resistant to pests or have higher yields, and further contributed to the stable production of food crops in the world.
An award-presentation ceremony will be held in Tokyo on April 20, 2016 to honor the two distinguished scientists.

The Japan Prize came into being after the late Mr. Konosuke Matsushita, thefounder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now known as Panasonic
Corporation), responded in 1982 with a personal donation to the thengovernment’s wish for creating a prestigious international prize for scientists
around the world as a token of gratitude for the international society. With aCabinet endorsement, the Prize was first awarded in 1985.
While the prize encompasses all categories of science and technology, two fieldsof study are designated for the prize each year in consideration of developments inscience and technology. Each Japan Prize laureate receives a certificate of meritand a prize medal. A cash prize of 50 million yen is also awarded to each prize field.

dioxide), and the creation of ceramics from glass. He later took up thechallenge of “creating a range of materials with electronic functions
solely from oxides, such as glass.”“ Materials and Production” field
Achievement : Creation of unconventional inorganic
materials with novel electronic functions
based on nano-structure engineering

Dr. Hideo Hosono (Japan)

Born: September 7, 1953 (Age 62)
Professor, Materials and Structures Laboratory,
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Summary
Discovery of new materials is a major driving force that transforms
industry and our society. Dr. Hideo Hosono endeavored to create
new functional materials in areas where others had not yet achieved
success. For example, it was said that “transparent oxides” like glass
are unsuitable as electrofunctional material because of their electricalnonconductivity, but Dr. Hosono studied their nano-structure anddeveloped the “transparent amorphous oxide semiconductor.” Today,
it is extensively used in technologies such as liquid crystal displays(LCDs) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, contributing enormously towards our society.
Furthermore, he has developed a series of unconventional inorganic
materials with electronic functions. In the field of superconductivity research, he focused on iron compounds, which nobody had been paying
attention to, and achieved high superconducting transition temperature.
He also developed “electrically conductive cement” by modifying thenano-structure of what had been considered an archetypal insulator
material.

Focusing on the behavior of electrons,
and striving for the development of materials that meet the needs of society“I want to pursue the kind of materials development that could
solve issues faced by our society”, felt Dr. Hideo Hosono, who wasdeeply impressed by reading “Discovery of Nylon” by Minoru Imoto(published by Tokyo Kagaku Dojin) during his years at a technology
college. Dr. Hosono went on to major in chemistry at Tokyo Metropolitan University, and in 1982, began his research career as a research
associate at Nagoya Institute of Technology.
His research themes at the time were the elucidation of the opticalproperties and the microstructure of high purity silica glass (silicon

The color and electrical characteristics of inorganic materials are
determined by the behavior of their electrons. Oxides such as glass
are transparent or white because their electrons have what experts
call the “wide-bandgap” property. They were also thought to lackelectronically active functions, since oxides are generally insulators.
However, with discoveries such as superconducting material madewith copper oxides in 1986, huge potential in materials research
was starting to emerge. Dr. Hosono too was seeing great potential intransparent oxides. Around this time, he announced his experimentresults and demonstrated that when the nano-structure of oxides,
which normally only turn white in color, is modified, they exhibit
light-induced coloration.
The key to Dr. Hosono’s research was the electron. In a later interview for a professional journal, he said, “My focus has solely beenon the property of electrons in solids. It may lead to semiconductors,
superconductors or catalysts, but it ultimately comes down to theingenious utilization of electrons in solids.”

Creating materials with superior electronic properties from
common elements
In 1993, Dr. Hosono assumed the post of associate professor at the
Research Laboratory of Engineering Materials (present day Materials
and Structures Laboratory), Tokyo Institute of Technology. Here,his underlying research theme was the “creation of electrofunctional
materials with transparent oxides such as glass”.
At the time, it was commonly believed that “transparent oxides”
were unsuitable as electrofunctional materials because of their electrical nonconductivity. Dr. Hosono, however, intentionally chose glass,a “transparent oxide,” as the subject of his research, in part because of
his aspiration to “challenge unexplored frontiers,” but also in responseto the large societal need for such materials.
For example, transistors used in LCDs and solar cell development
require semiconductors with not only superior electronic properties but
also to allow light to pass through. At the time, indium oxide containinga small amount of tin was known to meet this requirement. Indium,
however, is a scarce rare-metal that is very expensive, as well difficult

Dr. Hosono’s major research themes and achievements
research subjects
Creation of materials
with electronic functions
utilizing the nanostructureof transparent oxides

ＬａＦｅＡｓＯ

outcomes

Overturned the commonly
held idea that iron based
compounds are notsuperconductive.

The material designof a transparent
amorphous oxide
semiconductor

An oxide made ofcalcium and aluminum(C12A7)

A whole newhorizon ofhigh-temperature
superconducting
materials

Realization oftransparent, flexible
and highly efficientthin-film transistor
with IGZO

Transparent
metalsReplacement of oxygenions inside the nano-sized
skeleton cage structurewith electrons(First ever stable electride)

Practical
application in thenext generation
displays

Highlyefficientammoniasynthesis
catalyst

to secure in sufficient quantities.
Dr. Hosono’s strategy was to create materials that could meet theneeds of society from commonly available materials by modifying thenano-structure of transparent oxides. In 1994, he began the researchand development of transparent conductive materials. By studying
the oxides’ nano-structure and the behavior of the electrons within,
he revealed that “in transparent conductive oxides, there is a spatial
spread of the metal ion orbitals that carry electron conduction.”
Using this as a design guideline, he undertook the development of
numerous oxide semiconductors. In 1997, Dr. Hosono, together withhis mentor Dr. Hiroshi Kawazoe, successfully developed the world’s
first “p-type transparent oxide semiconductor.” This research was later
applied to the creation of the world’s first p-channel oxide thin-film
transistor.
Before long, Dr. Hosono’s work drew attention both within andoutside Japan. Subsequently, Japan’s research grant program “ERATO(Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology / Strategic Basic
Research Program)” selected Dr. Hosono’s proposal of “transparent
electro-active materials project.” Prompted by this project, hesuccessfully went on to achieve his goals one by one. Among the wide
range of themes Dr. Hosono undertook, “transparent amorphous oxide
semiconductors (TAOS) with high electron mobility” is an example ofpractical technology that has since been adopted worldwide.
Set off by Dr. Hosono’s research, TAOS became one of the major
fields of semiconductor research. In particular, Dr. Hosono developed
the world’s first In-Ga-Zn-O thin film transistor (IGZO-TFT), which
saw practical application as an energy-efficient device, due to its
high electron mobility despite lacking the highly ordered atomic
arrangement seen in crystal, and its high transparency. Today, it isbeginning to replace amorphous silicon semiconductors in LCDs on
devices such as PC monitors and tablet PCs. Most recently, it is also
starting to be implemented in large-sized OLED televisions.

The challenge of electrically conductive cement and iron-based
superconductors
Beside the development of transparent oxide semiconductors andluminescent materials, Dr. Hosono had another theme he wanted topursue, namely, “the research on the electronic functions of a calcium
aluminate C12A7”, an ingredient of cement. Cement is made up of
several compounds, all of which are typical insulators. Dr. Hosono
noticed that C12A7 was made up of nano-sized cage structures. He
then replaced the oxide ions held gently inside the “cages” withelectrons and created a new material called the electride, which has
excellent electrical conductivity like a metal, as well as superconductivity at low temperatures.
The discovery of electrides completely transformed the image of
cement as a new material with great potential. Other unique properties
of electrides, including greater electron emission ability and chemical
stability, opened up the possibility of their application as catalysts forvarious chemical reactions.
From there on, Dr. Hosono demonstrated that ammonia synthesis,
which had theretofore required high temperature and high pressure,
could efficiently be achieved under ambient pressure using theelectride as a catalyst. From fertilizer to gunpowder, ammonia is achemical substance of universal applications that is used to create
numerous indispensable materials for mankind. Therefore, its potential in contributing towards the building of a sustainable society isseen with great anticipation.
Through the modification of the nano-structure, Dr. Hosono createdelectrically conductive cement. In other words, he “turned cement into
metal.” These challenges towards the characteristics of materials led
to broadening his research area still further. One of his researches thatastonished the world was the discovery of iron-based high temperature superconductors.
Until then, iron, a typical magnetic element, was thought to be
unfavorable for superconductivity. However, by forming a layered
crystal structure through the reaction of iron with phosphorus andarsenic, Dr. Hosono achieved control over electrons, and in 2006,
discovered that an iron-based compound (LaFePO) is superconductive. In 2008, he drew attention from around the world with theannouncement of LaFeAsO, which has a superconducting transition
temperature of 26 K.
Dr. Hosono’s research has pioneered a new frontier in the exploration of superconducting materials by discovering iron-based
superconductors in addition to the already known copper-based
superconductors. Because iron-based superconductors have a highcritical magnetic field and exhibit small anisotropic properties,
applied research is under way to explore their potential for practicaluse in materials, such as for superconducting magnets.
It is greatly anticipated that Dr. Hideo Hosono’s successful
research, which focuses on the behavior of electrons in substancesfrom an original perspective, will continue to give rise to materials
that will transform our society.

“Biological Production and Biological Environment” field

Creation of the tomato chromosomal map Elucidation of
QTL genes responsible for fruit size

Achievement : Contribution to modern crop breeding throughresearch on development of molecular genetic
analysis

During the 1980s, Dr. Steven Tanksley was the first to make amajor breakthrough in this field. He was involved in research on
plant molecular genetics and selective breeding at New Mexico
State University (1981-1985) and Cornell University (1985
onwards). Using the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism(RFLP) method, which had been developed at the time, Dr. Tanksley undertook the challenge of creating “chromosomal maps” forthe tomato and rice crops, which mark the location of important
genes on DNA.
The RFLP method enables the analysis of a chromosome’s
characteristics on the “individual level” by the fragment lengthof DNA when it is cut using a restriction enzyme. This method
centered on the fact that when the base sequence is identical, thefragment length is also identical, and when the gene differed, thefragment length also differed.
First, Dr. Tanksley successfully created a chromosomal map oftomato plant by the RFLP method. He then analyzed the locationof fragments where length differed across individual plants (genemapping) and discovered six QTLs related to the fruit size of
tomatoes.
When his research achievements were published in the “Nature”
in 1988, a ripple of excitement ran through researchers aroundthe world engaged in the study of selective breeding, whether foranimals or plants. His research paper revealed that, by regarding
QTLs related to important traits as “DNA markers,” the selectionof individuals during selective breeding could now be backed byscientific evidence. In recognition of his innovative research, Dr.
Tanksley was elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of
Sciences in 1995.

Dr. Steven D. Tanksley (USA)
Born: April 7, 1954 (Age 61)
Professor Emeritus, Cornell University

Summary
Since the beginning of agriculture, mankind has practiced selective
breeding in search of crops with enhanced traits. For most of that time,the methods practiced relied on experience and intuition. From the
1980s, however, rapid advancements in genomic analysis techniquesbrought about significant changes. The pioneering figure who continuously led this field was Dr. Steven Tanksley.
Dr. Tanksley created chromosomal maps of crops by molecular
genetic analysis and went on to identify genes that are related toagricultural productivity, such as fruit size, thereby developing agenomic analysis technique that is instrumental for selective breeding.
His research, which combines genetic information and breeding techniques, has contributed enormously to increasing selection accuracy
and reducing the amount of time required to breed new crop varieties.

Selective breeding, from reliance on experience and intuition
to application of molecular genetics
It is believed that agriculture began 10 to 20 thousand years ago.
Humans took their staple wild plants and began intentionally cultivating them as crops. Through a long course of trial and error, humans
bred diverse varieties of “crops” by selectively cultivating thoseindividual crops that had higher yields and were more resistant to diseases and pests. “Selective breeding,” in which superior individuals
are crossbred, was also developed.
Most traditional selective breeding relied on experience, intuitionand luck, but in the 19th century, a “scientific perspective” was brought
into this field. Gregor Johann Mendel revealed that when two strainsof pea plants were crossbred, traits (properties and characteristics of anorganism) inherited by the offspring followed a certain fixed pattern.
It’s famously known as “Mendel's laws of inheritance.”
Mendel’s laws led to the adoption of a scientific approach to selective
breeding. His laws, however, only applied to traits related to genes that
determine “qualitative” differences amongst individuals, such as “thecolor of the peas being green/yellow” and “the peas being round or
wrinkled,” most of which were caused by single genes.
In contrast, many of the traits we desire in crops, such as “larger
size,” “greater yields” and “faster flowering,” cannot be determinedin the “black and white” manner of qualitative traits. These traits
are determined by a complex interaction of multiple genes on thechromosome and environmental factors. Genes of this nature arecalled “Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL).”
Even into the 20th century, traits determined by QTL were being
selectively bred based only on experience and intuition. However,following the discovery of restriction enzymes which cut doublestranded DNA containing the genes, selective breeding entered a new
era in the 1980s with rapid advancements in the molecular genetic
analysis of crops.

Application of DNA markers leads to realization of efficient
selective breedingThroughout the 1990s to 2000s, Dr. Tanksley continues to leadthe field of selective breeding and plant genetics. One of his research
themes was to elucidate which genes of wild plant species mankind
had taken advantage of in order to create the modern species.
For example, Dr. Tanksley points out in his paper that whencomparing the wild ancestor of tomatoes, which originated inSouth America, with the modern species, fruit size has increased
several hundred-fold. Dr. Tanksley conducted research in which
he crossbred tomatoes that differed in fruit size and mapped out
the major QTLs that determine tomato fruit size. As a result,
he revealed that the modern species with larger fruit size had adecreased amount of transcription in certain genes, whereas thewild species of tomatoes with smaller fruit size had a large amountof transcription. He believes that such variation occurred during
the process of cultivation by humans and was accelerated byintentional selection of larger fruit. Dr. Tanksley’s research also
covers a wide variety of themes such as the elucidation of genes
for increased resistance to diseases and pests.
Led by Dr. Tanksley’s research, selective breeding using DNA
markers began to spread around the world. In Japan, where rice is thestaple crop, new varieties have been developed using DNA markers
that influence agriculturally important traits, such as “resistanceto diseases and pests like the rice blast fungus,” “cold tolerance,”“variations of heading time (early or late)” and “taste,” some ofwhich have turned out to be exceptionally successful breeds.
Today, one of the most important themes surrounding selective
breeding is the challenge of adapting to global warming. Mankind
will face serious food shortages if agriculture is unable to adapt to
the rapidly changing climate. Therefore, the prompt and precisedevelopment of species adapted to the warming climate is essential.
In facing this challenge, the “development and application of DNA
markers for breeding” (Marker Assisted Selection), led by Dr.
Tanksley, is playing a crucial role.
In this manner, Dr. Steven Tanksley’s research has brought us toa new age in breeding techniques, which are contributing towards
solutions such as the realization of a stable and increased productionof food, and have become one of the most important technologies
for mankind in building a prosperous future.

QTL

Quantitative Trait Loci
The gene cluster that
influences the height,
the yield, and the flowering
period of a crop (right)
Qualitative Trait Loci :Mendel's principles ofinheritance determines
whether peas will be “green/
yellow” and “round/wrinkled”
Size of ears

1

2

C

3

B

D

LOD score; The statistical score that
estimate the positional relation of phenotype
to DNA marker.

B

A

Arrows indicate QTLCLOD score

QTLs are found across multiple chromosomes

The size of the circle indicatesthe contribution rate of eachgene to a quantitative trait.

Size of the whole crops

A

D

Threshold

1

2

3

Chromosomal Location

Genes with high contribution rates are selected by DNA markers

The DNA marker
that's strongly
influential in the
improvement ofcrops

P1 Positional informationof genes with highcontribution rate in achromosomal map
P2 (DNA marker)

A DNA marker
with little
influence

Parents
P1
P2
Strong Weak

Offspring☆

☆

☆

☆ Offspring that carry strongly influential DNA marker

Selection of superior
offspring by DNA
markers (MAS) : Allows
fast and accurate
determination of which
parent the offspring
inherited its chromosome
fragment fromNomination and Selection Process■

Every November, the Field Selection Committee of The Japan Prize Foundation designates and announces two
fields in which the Japan Prize will be awarded two years hence. At the same time, the Foundation calls for over
13,000 nominators, strictly comprised of prominent scientists and researchers from around the world invitedby the Foundation, to nominate the candidates through the web by JPNS (Japan Prize Nomination System).
The deadline for nominations is the end of February of the following year.

■

For each field, a Selection Subcommittee conducts a rigorous evaluation of the candidates’ academic achievements.
The conclusions are then forwarded to the Selection Committee, which conducts evaluations of candidates’
achievements from a wider perspective, including contributions to the progress of science and technology, andsignificant advancement towards the cause of world peace and prosperity, and finally the selected candidates arerecommended for the Prize.

■

The recommendations are then sent to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, which makes the final decision on the recipients.

■

The nomination and selection process takes almost one year from the time that the fields are decided. Every January,
the winners of that year’s Japan Prize are announced. The Presentation Ceremony is held in April in Tokyo.
November, 2014
Determinethe fields eligible
for the 2016
Japan Prize
Materials andProduction

End February, 2015

November, 2015

January, 2016

April, 2016

Board ofDirectors

Announce
the Laureatesof the 2016
Japan Prize

The 2016
Japan Prize
Presentation
Ceremony

Selection Committee

Invite thenominations

Closing of thenominations

Selection Subcommittee
for Materials and Production
Selection Subcommittee
for Biological Production and
Biological Environment

Biological Production and
Biological Environment

Members of the 2016 Japan Prize Selection Committee
MemberYoshinori Fujiyoshi

Professor
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University

Yoshihiro Hayashi
ChairmanVice Chairman

Director General
National Museum of Nature and Science

Hiroshi Komiyama

Ryozo Nagai

Yoshio Karita

Chairman of the InstituteMitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.
The 28th Presidentof the University of Tokyo

President
Jichi Medical University

Director
The Japan Prize Foundation

Yoichiro Matsumoto
Executive Director
RIKEN

Masayuki Matsushita

Director
The Japan Prize Foundation

Yoshinao Mishima

President
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Shojiro Nishio

President
Osaka University

Tadatsugu Taniguchi

Project Professor, Institute of Industrial Science
The University of Tokyo

Selection Subcommittee for the “ Materials and Production” field
MemberMasashi Kawasaki

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Yoshinao Mishima

Kazuhiko Ishihara

President
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Professor
Department of Materials
Engineering, Schoolof Engineering
The University of Tokyo

Kotobu Nagai

Professor
Department of Applied Physics
School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Director, Research Center for Structural Materials
National Institute for Materials Science

Kikuo Kishimoto

Toshikazu Takata

Dean, Graduate School of Science and Engineering
Dean, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Kazuyuki Kuroda

Professor
Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Masahiro Terada

Professor
Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University

Professor
Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science
Tohoku University

Shigeo Maruyama

Shinji Tsuneyuki

Distinguished Professor, Department of MechanicalEngineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Cross-Appointment Fellow
Department of Energy and Environment, National Institute ofAdvanced Industrial Science and Technology

Professor
Department of Physics, School of Science
The University of Tokyo

Selection Subcommittee for the “Biological Production and Biological Environment” field
MemberToru Fujiwara

Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The University of Tokyo

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Yoshihiro Hayashi

Yoshihisa Shirayama

Director General
National Museum of Natureand Science

Executive Director of Research
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth
Science and Technology

Tsuyoshi Hosoya

Head, Division of Fungi and Algae
Department of Botany, National Museumof Nature and Science

Shigetou Namba

Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The University of Tokyo

Noboru Noguchi

Professor
Research Faculty of Agriculture
Hokkaido University

Koh-ichi Kadowaki

Toru Shimada

Director General
Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture
and Food Research Organization

Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The University of Tokyo

Makoto Kato

Takakazu Yumoto

Professor
Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies
Kyoto University

Professor
Primate Research InstituteKyoto University

Kei-ichiro Maeda

Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The University of Tokyo( alphabetical order, titles as of December, 2015)

Fields Eligible for the 2017 Japan Prize
Area ofPhysics, Chemistry
and Engineering

Electronics, Information and Communication

Background and rationale:

In recent years, we have seen new waves of technological development from devices to systems, in various fields of electronics, informationand communication, such as artificial intelligence, big data, IoT, next generation network, robotics and energy utilization. In particular,innovation derived from the rapid and efficient utilization of large data generated across broad areas is anticipated to spawn new cultures,
lifestyles and types of manufacturing, thereby contributing enormously to the advancement of our society.
Meanwhile, the various incidental phenomena that are threatening the safety and security of our lives can no longer be ignored, making thedevelopment of technological solutions an urgent matter.

Achievement eligible:

The 2017 Japan Prize in the field of “Electronics, Information and Communication” will be awarded to an individual(s) who has achievedscientific and technological breakthroughs, such as development of essential technologies or systems that contribute significantly and widely tothe creation of new industries, to the innovation of manufacturing technologies, to the advancement of information and knowledge driven
society, and to the assurance of our society’s safety and security, as well as basic research and development that is highly likely to drive thefuture advancement of our society.
Area of
Life Science, Agricultureand Medicine

Life Science

Background and rationale:

The field of life science has been increasingly expanding and deepening in recent years, leading to remarkable advances in our understanding of life
itself.
For example, genome and epigenome analysis using next-generation sequencing, OMICs analysis using mass spectrometry, molecular andmorphological analysis using super-resolution microscopy or three-dimensional electron microscopy, and various analyses using genome editing
techniques are progressing at an incredible pace. Such innovative analysis technologies have contributed to numerous revolutionary discoveries.
While we must respect bioethics and handle personal information very carefully, the advancement of our understanding of the life phenomenon will beof tremendous benefit to humanity and lead to the creation and spread of new fields of medicine in the future.

Achievement eligible:

The 2017 Japan Prize in the field of “Life Science” will be awarded to an individual(s) who has achieved scientific and technological breakthroughs,
such as the discovery of new life phenomena and innovation in analysis techniques that facilitate the elucidation of biological functions, thereby
contributing significantly to our society.

Fields Selection Committee for the 2017 Japan Prize
MemberKen Furuya

Professor, Department of Aquatic Bioscience
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The University of Tokyo

ChairmanVice Chairman

Katsuhiko Shirai

Kohei Miyazono

Chairperson
The Foundation
for the Open Universityof JapanProfessor
Department of
Molecular Pathology
Graduate School of Medicine
The University of Tokyo

Kazuhito Hashimoto

Tohru Nakashizuka

Professor, Department of Environmental Life Sciences
Graduate School of Life Sciences
Tohoku University

Noriko Osumi

Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry
Graduate School of Engineering
The University of Tokyo

Director, United Centers for Advanced Research andTranslational Medicine (ART)
Tohoku University School of Medicine

Masahiko Isobe

Masakatsu Shibasaki

Hiroshi Kuwahara

Atsuko Tsuji

President
Kochi University of Technology

Chairman of Board of Directors
Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation
Director, Institute of Microbial Chemistry

Senior Corporate Advisor
Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.

Staff Writer
Op-Ed Section, The Asahi Shimbun

Kenichi Mori

Former Director, TDK Corporation( alphabetical order, titles as of December, 2015)

Schedule (2017-2019)

The fields eligible for the Japan Prize (2017 to 2019) have been decided for the two research areas, respectively.
These fields rotate every three years, basically.
Every year the Fields Selection Committee announces the eligible field for the next three years.
Area of Physics, Chemistry and Engineering

Area of Life Science, Agriculture and Medicine

Year

Eligible Fields

Year

Eligible Fields

2017
2018
2019

Electronics, Information and Communication
Resources, Energy, Environment, Social Infrastructure
Materials, Production

2017
2018
2019

Life Science
Medical Science, Medicinal Science
Biological Production, Biological Environment