I am Tomoyuki Higuchi, Director-General of The Institute of Statistical Mathematics.
Before the award ceremony, I would like to briefly talk about the Akaike MemorialLecture Award, as well as about its namesake, the late Dr. Hirotugu Akaike.
Dr. Akaike graduated from the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science of The
University of Tokyo in 1952. That same year, he became a researcher at The Institute ofStatistical Mathematics. In 1962, he became Section Head of the Second Research
Section, First Research Division, and then Divisional Head of the Fifth Division in 1973.
He served Director of Control & System Analysis in 1985, and was selected to be
Director-General in 1986. Dr. Akaike served as Director-General for eight years.
He was Council Member of the Science Council of Japan beginning 1988. In that sameyear, he also served Chair of the Department of Statistical Science at the Graduate
University for Advanced Studies, which is the first graduate course focusing on
Statistics in Japan. Through these activities, Dr. Akaike contributed to the developmentof statistical science in Japan and the education of younger researchers and graduate
students.
Following his retirement from The Institute of Statistical Mathematics and subsequentappointment as Professor Emeritus, and until the time of his passing, Dr. Akaike
continued to energetically devote himself to research. In recognition of hisachievements and influence on a broad range of international and cutting-edge research
fields, Dr. Akaike was bestowed with numerous prominent honors, including a Purple
Ribbon Medal in 1989, Second Class Order of the Sacred Treasure, and Kyoto Prize in2006.
Last November 5th was the 90th-Birthday of Dr. Hirotugu Akaike. To celebrate it,
Google posted this portrait on a top page of Google Search in 13 countries. Here is an
explanation given by Google for choosing Dr. Akaike. In a short sentence, I love thisphrase: For Dr. Akaike, experience was core to creativity. It is short, but represents very
well what drove Dr. Akaike in Science.
The Institute of Statistical Mathematics operates the Hirotugu Akaike Memorial Website,which includes an outline of his career and a listing of his papers. Please visit the sitewhen you have the chance.

As those of you here today are deeply understanding, Dr. Akaike was a seminal figure in
the field of statistical science in Japan. The Institute of Statistical Mathematics andJapanese Statistical community jointly established the Akaike Memorial Lecture Award
to commemorate his enormous achievements to award a researcher who has registeredremarkable achievements in the field of statistical science. By presenting the Akaike
Memorial Lecture, we hope to encourage the development of our younger international
colleagues and contribute to the development of statistical science, which were Dr.
Akaike’s wishes while he was alive.
This award and the presentation of the Akaike Memorial Lecture are made possible
through a donation by Dr. Akaike to The Institute of Statistical Mathematics in order tosupport exploratory research into statistical science. I am extremely pleased to present
the 2nd Akaike Memorial Lecture Award to Professor Mike West of Duke University inUS. We sincerely hope that this award will serve as a stimulus to many researchers andcontribute to the further development of statistical science.