JAPAN PRIZE NEWSTHE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FOUNDATION OF JAPAN (JSTF)
Shisei Kaikan, 1-3, Hibiya-Koen,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan 100
Tel. 03 (3508) 7691

NO. 11JULY 1992

German and British Scientists Awarded 1992 (8th) Japan Prize
Recognized for Scientific Achievements in Science and Technology of Material Interfaces and in Science andTechnology for Biological Production

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Ertl

Two Professors from Germany and the United Kingdom wereawarded the 1992 (eighth) Japan Prize, the most prestigious andhonored prize in the fields of science and technology, at a presentation ceremony held at the National Theatre in Tokyo on April 27.
The Prize is presented annually by The Science and Technology
Foundation of Japan to scientists and researchers who have madesubstantial contributions to the advancement of science and technology and to the peace and prosperity of mankind.
The categories of this year were Science and Technology ofMaterial Interfaces and Science and Technology for BiologicalProduction. Top scientists and academics around the world submitted 657 nominations, 361 for Science and Technology of MaterialInterfaces and 296 for Science and Technology for Biological Production.
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Ertl, Honorary Professor at the Free University
Berlin and at the Technical University Berlin and Director of FritzHaber Institute, Max Planck Society, received the 1992 (eighth)
Japan Prize in the category of Science and Technology of MaterialInterfaces. Prof. Dr Ertl is credited for his contributions to the newdevelopment of the chemistry and physics of solid surfaces.
In the category of Science and Technology for Biological Production, the prize went to Prof. Ernest John Christopher Polge, Scientific Director of Animal Biotechnology Cambridge Ltd., who iscredited for his discovery of a method of the cryopreservation ofsemen and embryos in farm animals.

Prof. Ernest J. C. Paige

JAPAN PRIZElTheir Majesties The Emperorand Empress Attended
The Presentation Ceremony
Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress attended the presentation ceremony at the National Theatre in Tokyo on April 27, 1992.
Some 1,000 prominent guests attended the ceremony, including theChief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Minister of Education, theMinister of the Science and Technology Agency, the Governor ofTokyo, numerous ambassadors to Japan, eminent scholars andresearchers, and representatives from other fields including politics, finance, industry and the media.
The ceremony began with a rendition of Minoru Miki's Overture
Japan, a work composed specially for the ceremony and performedby the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction ofHiroshi lshimaru. Foundation Chairman Dr. Masami Ito made theopening address and Dr. Jiro Kondo, Chairman of the 1992 Japan
Prize Selection Committee, introduced the two winners and theirachievements. After the chairmen of the two selection panels
presented the reasons fortheir selections, Foundation President Dr.
Kisaburo Yokota presented the winners with their certificates ofmerit, commemorative medals and cash awards of 50 million yen foreach category.

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Dr. Ertl said, "I consider therecognition of one's achievements by the judgement of peers to be
the most satisfying reward for all efforts . Prof. Polge expressed his
appreciation, saying, "I am sure many good friends in Japan sharewith me the pleasure that this award recognizes the contribution
not only to the progress of science and technology but also to thepeace and prosperity of mankind."

Brilliant Banquet Held with

Their Majesties The Emperorand Empress
Following the presentation ceremony, a banquet for the 1992
Japan Prize winners was held at Akasaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo on
the evening of April 27, in the presence of Their Majesties The
Emperor and Empress of Japan as well as 500 dignitaries including
Japanese government officials, the German and U.K. ambassadors
to Japan, other ambassadors and ministers, and celebrities fromvarious fields . The brilliant celebration included music by the New
Vivaldi Ensemble.

JAPAN PRIZE

Addressby HisJapan Prize Week

Majesty TheEmperor
On the occasion of the eighth Japan Prize Award Ceremony, it
is a great pleasure for me to offer my sincerest congratulations
to the two awardees: Professor Ernest John Christopher Polgeand Professor Doctor Grerhard Ertl.
Professor Ertl has conducted research on the analysis of thelevel of atoms and molecules on the surface of solid materials in
relation to heterogeneous catalysis, thereby opening the way forpractical applications of the principle.
The studies pursued by Professor Polge have paved the way
for the preservation of animal cells by deep freezing, and themethod established by Professor Polge has given a great impetus
to the livestock industry.
I am convinced that, in the fields of science and technology ofboth interfacial materials and bioproduction, their studies willlead to the further development of a wide range of applications
contributing to the welfare of humanity. I would, therefore, liketo express my deepest respects for the remarkable achievements of these two men.
At present, the world is confronted with such problems as
over-population and our concerns regarding the preservationof the environment. It is my belief that science and technology
have extremely important roles to play in helping to overcome
these global issues and safeguard the peace and prosperity ofhumanity.
I sincerely hope that this year's Japan Prizes will contribute tothe further advancement of science and technology and thus
help to create prosperity around the world.

Courtesy call on the Prime Minister (April 23)•19Jl,~ 8 :$Iii I. m~m],\l',\ N l'l(IZf:l•X,C l. 'fU'"::

Press conference at the Japan Press Center (April 22)

An opening address by the Foundation President Dr. Yokota wasfollowed by dinner, after which His Majesty The Emperor honored
the two laureates with a congratulatory toast. A second toast in
appreciation of the laureates' wives was made by His Excellency Mr.
Yuji Osada, President, House of Councillors, who represented thethree branches of the Japanese government. The laureates' wives
were then presented with bouquets.
Another toast was proposed by His Excellency Mr. Kanzo
Tanigawa, Minister of Science and Technology Agency, who asked
the guests in toasting to the Japan Prize's further contribution
toward world peace and prosperity.
The banquet continued with congratulatory messages from Mr.
Sh uni chi Suzuki, Governor of Tokyo, H.E. Mr. Fawzi Bin Abdul Majeed
Shobokshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of theKingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mr. Wilhelm Haas.Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany, andH.E. Sir John Whitehead, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The end of the banquet was highlighted by a performance by theTokyo University of Foreign Studies Mixed Voices Cahor Soleil
featuring songs of the universities and countries where the laureates spent their days as young students.
Prior to closing the banquet, Profs. Ertl and Polge gave speechesof thanks and brought this memorable banquets to its close.

Visit to the Science Council of Japan (April 22)

Commemorative Lectures in Tokyo, at the Nissho Hall (April 24)

JAPAN PRIZE

Exchange Activities
The Foundation has close relationships with the Nobel
Foundation since its establishment. In 1987, it instituted a program
to send two Japanese students to the annual Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar during the Nobel Prize Week. The
seminar seeks to promote international exchanges among young
scientists and is supported by the Nobel Foundation .
The participants in the 1991 seminar were Ms. Atsuko Inoue,
from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Sophia
University, and Ms. Shizuko Ohe, from the Department of Forestry,
Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture andTechnology.
Their memoirs are as follows:

Ms. Inoue (left) and Ms. Ohe, in Stockholm

On December 9, 1991, the day before the 90th Nobel Prizeaward ceremony, a reception was given at the Vasa Museum inhonour of the past Nobel laureates. I was very lucky to have achance to talk with some of the laureates.
In the museum , there was a large wooden ship called "Vasa"
which had sunk on its first voyage placed . I felt an aura of theVikings. Around the Vasa, many people from all over the world weretalking cheerfully with the laureates.
I had a chance to talk with Dr. Elias J. Corey, the 1990 laureatein Chemistry and the recipient of the 1989 Japan Prize. I asked him
his impression of Japan and the difference between American
students and Japanese students.
It was rather impressive for me to see some laureates looking fortheir wives.
Many participants wore their national costumes of interesting
and I enjoyed conversations with them, inquiring about suchcostumes.
Under the world's most prestigious Novel Prize, people gather
and the people's circles further expand.
My real feeling was, after attending the reception party, it might
have been the intention of late Alfred Nobel that I could see people
who were not usually available otherwise.
(by Atsuko Inoue)

A limousine came to pick us up at the hotel where we had been
staying . I was the last one to get into the caras it took time to change
into my furisode-long sleeved kimono.
In 1991 , the Nobel Prize marked its 90th anniversary, and all thepast prize winners were invited to the award ceremony to celebrate
the occasion .
The City Hall where the ceremony was usually held was too small
to accommodate all the attendees, so the 1991 ceremony took
place in the Globen Convention Hall.
The Hall was filled with formally dressed up ladies and gentlemen , and I was amazed to see that there were lots of students witha white cap, perhaps more than half of the guests, invited to theceremony. A white cap itself did not go with a white tie or a long
evening dress, but every single student looked so proud of wearinga white hat.
The ceremony started . The Swedish Festival Music which has
been played since the first ceremony in 1901 brought in the past
Nobel laureates.
Among the laureates were elderly people, some in wheelchairs.
I felt the dignity of the Nobel Prize history. The glorious atmospherewith consecutive musics and speaches gave a great impression on
me. I will never forget this gathering of world-famous scientists.
(by Sizuko Ohe)

Selection of WIIlilers Begins forthe 1993 (9th) Japan Prizeelucidating the destiny of the origin of life." (August 26), "Mysteriesof the inside of the earth-to explore the inner depth lying
underbeneath of our feet." (September 24), "Living organisms
under the environments of the utmost limits.-the wonders ofliving" (October 28), "The Big Bang-exploring the birth of theuniverse." (November 25).

The categories of the 1993 (9th) Japan Prize are Safety Engineering and Disaster Mitigation and Molecular and Cellular Technology
in Medicine. Candidates have been recommended through numerous letters of nomination received by the Foundation from aroundthe world. The 1993 Selection Committee has been established andthe process of selecting next year's winners is under way. Results
will be announced publicly in December, 1992 and the presentation
ceremony will be held in April, 1993.

Monthly Science andTechnology Seminars
The Foundation holds a series of free monthly science andtechnology seminars in Japanese for the general public. The seminars are aimed at promoting the comprehensive spread of information and development of ideas regarding science and technology.
Distinguished scholars, scientists, engineers and other recognized leaders in their fields give lectures in easy-to-understandlanguage for the benefit of the public.
Seminars in the 1992 series have the yearly theme "Wonders ofnatural environment and lives-to rethink the starting points ofscience." Seminar titles will include: "Spawning of fishes-endlessoperations by fishes to live." (July 29), "Questions on genes-