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No. 62

May 2019

2019 (35th) Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony
Two scientists from Japan and the U.S. honored in the presenceof Their Majesties the Emperor and Empressat the last Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony of the Heisei era

On Monday, April 8th, the Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony was held at the National Theatre in the presence of Their
Majesties the Emperor and Empress. The Japan Prize is an international award presented to individuals whose original andoutstanding achievements in science and technology have served to promote peace and prosperity for mankind.
For the 2019 Japan Prize, Prof. Yoshio Okamoto, University Professor of Nagoya University, was awarded in the "Materials
and Production" field for his leading contributions to the precision synthesis of helical polymers and development of practicalchiral materials for separating chiral drugs. In the "Biological Production, Ecology" field, Prof. Rattan Lal, Distinguished
University Professor of Soil Science at the Ohio State University, was awarded for his contributions to the sustainable soil
management for global food security and mitigation of climate change. Both laureates were presented with a certificate of merit, aprize medal, and a cash prize of 50 million yen.
Each year, the Japan Prize Foundation receives nominations from prominent scientists and researchers worldwide, from which
candidates are chosen through a rigorous year-long selection process. Of the fields eligible for the prize in 2019, the "Materials
and Production" field received 270 nominations, and the "Biological Production, Ecology" field received 99 nominations.

The Japan Prize came into being in 1982 after the late Mr. Konosuke
Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now known as
Panasonic Corporation), made a personal donation in response to the thengovernment’s wish to create a prestigious international prize for scientists fromaround the world as a token of gratitude to the international community. Withcabinet endorsement, the prize was first awarded in 1985. The Japan Prize honors

those whose original and outstanding achievements are not only scientificallysignificant, but have also served to promote peace and prosperity for all
mankind. Each year, the foundation designates two fields for award
presentation in consideration of developments in science and technology. EachJapan Prize laureate receives a certificate of merit and a prize medal. A cash
prize of 50 million yen is also presented to each prize category.

“Materials and Production”

Leading contributions to precision synthesis of helical polymers anddevelopment of practical chiral materials for separating chiral drugs

Prof. Yoshio Okamoto
Born: January 10, 1941
University Professor of Nagoya University,
Chair Professor of Harbin Engineering University, China

Message from the laureate

It is truly an honor to be receiving the Japan Prize in theof left and right hands.

presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress,

From there on, I succeeded in the practical application of

distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen. I would

this ability and discovered new polysaccharide-based

like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Japan Prizeseparation materials before being recognized for this award.

Foundation, the Selection Committee, and all the

I would like to express my utmost gratitude to all thenominators for recognizing my research.

colleagues I collaborated with in my research and the“The synthesis of unidirectional helical polymers” , which

students who assisted me in conducting the experiments.

became the starting point of the research that I’m being

Also, since the Japan Prize places a strong emphasis on

recognized for, was first discovered back in 1979. This year

practical applications, I would like to sincerely thankbeing the 40th year anniversary since the discovery, I feel

Daicel Corporation for successfully commercializing theblessed to be receiving this honor on such occasion.

fruits of my basic research.

My research was initially driven by my curiosity inI have been involved in the research of polymers andtrying to demonstrate the existence of unidirectional

chiral compound for many years and it gives me great joy

helical polymers and was not aiming for the practicalto know that the receiving of this award will encourage

application of helical polymers.

researchers, especially those that are young, who are

However, with incredible fortune, I unexpectedly
discovered that the helical polymer I synthesized showed
high separation ability for enantiomers, which arecompounds in a mirror-image relationship as in the casecurrently undertaking research in these fields.
Thank you.
Yoshio Okamoto

“Biological Production, Ecology”

Sustainable soil management for global food security
and mitigation of climate changeProf. Rattan Lal
Born: : September 5, 1944
Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science
Director, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center
The Ohio State University
Message from the laureate

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, distinguishedand Mrs. Drake, Dean Kress, Vice Provost Prof. Latz, Sr.

guests, and ladies and gentlemen, it is a matter of great

Vice President Dr. Morley Stone, and Director Jeff Sharp

honor and privilege for me to receive the 2019 Japan Prize

for their kind support, encouragement and collaboration. I

for the research on “Sustainable Management of Soil andappreciate the support of staff, students, postdocs andFood Security and Climate Change.” For this, I am

visiting scholars of the Carbon Management andespecially grateful to the Japan Prize Foundation for the

Sequestration Center and of the SENR. I thank my wife,

unique opportunity to represent soil science globally, but

Sukhvarsha, and our family in the United States, Canada

specifically in relation to essential ecosystem services

and India for their compassionate understanding. Thank

including food and nutritional security, adaption andyou for the honor and privilege.

mitigation of climate change, and advancing the
Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. I
would also like to thank my fellow soil scientists fromJapan, especially Prof. Takashi Kosaki, Prof. Kazuyuki
Inubushi and others. My special thanks are due to President

Rattan Lal

Presentation Ceremony

The 2019 (35th) Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony was held at the National Theatre in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor andEmpress. The magnificent occasion was celebrated by approximately 1,000 attendees, including distinguished guests such as Mr. Tadamori
Oshima, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Chuichi Date, President of the House of Councillors, Mr. Naoto Otani, Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court, Mr. Masahiko Shibayama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Mr. Takuya Hirai, Ministerof State for Special Missions, as well as prominent academic and business figures.
At the presentation ceremony, which opened with a glorious rendition of "Overture to the Japan Prize Ceremony - Overture Japan", family
and friends watched as the laureates were presented with a certificate of merit and a prize medal by Chairman Yoshio Yazaki of the Japan
Prize Foundation. The laureates received warm applause from the audience as they held up the prize medals and expressed their joy in theiracceptance speeches.
During the ceremony, President Komiyama of the Japan Prize Foundation also announced the 2019 launch of the "Japan Prize Heisei
Memorial Research Grant Program", a new research grant program to convey our heartfelt appreciation to Their Majesties the Emperor andEmpress for the many years of support for the Japan Prize since its inception. The name of this new program was inspired by the kindness of
Their Majesties who has always shown great interest in the research activities of young researchers and offered words of encouragement. At
the same time as expressing the foundation's deepest gratitude for the kindness that Their Majesty has bestowed upon the Japan Prize, we
hope this program will become an embodiment of their legacy. We will significantly revise and enrich our current "Research Grants for
Young Researchers" in order to offer a program under which young researchers can excel under a free and flexible mindset.
The ceremony was followed by a commemorative concert, in which Tokyo Geidai Symphony Orchestra performed movement 1 ofMozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" and "Let it be" by Paul McCartney as requested by Prof. Okamoto, and "Scene" and " Waltz of Flower"
from Tchaikovsky's ballet suites "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker" as requested by Prof. Lal.
About the Japan Prize
Heisei Memorial Research Grant
ProgramProf. Okamoto and his son

Prof. and Mrs. Lal

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress
congratulating the laureates

Commemorative concert
by the Tokyo Geidai Symphony Orchestra

Congratulatory addressby H.E. Mr. Oshima, Speakerof the House of Representatives

Opening remarksby President Komiyamaof the Japan Prize Foundation

The laureate announcementby Chairman Asashima of the 2019Japan Prize Selection Committee

As an avid researcher of fish andanimals, His Majesty the Emperor has
always been passionate about theadvancement of science and technology andits contribution to society. Since theinception of the Japan Prize in 1985, His
Majesty has honored and acknowledged the
96 successive laureates by bestowing his
presence at all the ceremonies from thevery first through to the most recent 35th
ceremony that took place this April, whichbecame the last ceremony of the Heisei era.
Every year since the 7th Japan Prize of
1991, His Majesty has also bestowed his
presence at the post-banquet social
gathering, proposed by His Majesty himself,
for a deep discussion on research and hasoffered words of encouragement to young
researchers.
We hope that the "Japan Prize Heisei
Memorial Research Grant Program", a
new research grant program that'sscheduled to start this year, can live up to
the expectation of His Majesty and his
passion for science and technology.

Banquet

Following the presentation ceremony, a banquet in honor of the laureates was held at Hotel New Otani Tokyo. In response to a toast given by His
Majesty the Emperor, over 300 guests raised their glasses to once again congratulate the two laureates on their achievements. Amid the beautiful
strains performed by a string quartet and a harp, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress engaged in pleasant conversation with the laureates andtheir families seated by their side. The banquet, which spanned an hour and a half, came to a close with a congratulatory message from President Dateof the House of Councillors and acknowledgment speeches from the laureates.
Prof. Okamoto reiterated that fast and accurate separation analysis of enantiomers is crucial for pharmaceutical drug development because many
pharmaceutical drugs have enantiomers. As more advancements are made in his research area, he hopes to see that young researchers will further
develop his technique to realize the large-scale and low-cost separation of many enantiomers including pharmaceutical drugs.
Prof. Lal explained that soil is essential to all life on earth and the risks posed by the degradation of soil and our environment has been increasingalong with the world population. In order to combat such issues as global food security, he advocated that we must improve the environment byrestoring soil's health and protecting natural resources.
Prof. Lal stated that the award is a recognition of the significance of soil science and the world's agricultural industries, and thanked the prize forraising people's awareness on the importance of soil and its sustainable management for human health and the conservation and restoration of nature.
He also stated that he will donate the prize money to support research and education at The Ohio State University's Carbon Management andSequestration Center.

Toast by His Majesty the Emperor

Opening addressby Chairman Yazaki of theJapan Prize Foundation

Acknowledgment
by Prof. Okamoto

Acknowledgment
by Prof. Lal

Congratulatory addressby H.E. Mr. Date,
President of the House of Councillors

2019 (35th) Japan Prize Commemorative Lectures
On Wednesday, April 10, the commemorative lectures by Prof. Yoshio Okamoto and Prof. Rattan Lal were held at the Ito International ResearchCenter, University of Tokyo. In front of approximately 300 members of the audience, comprised of researchers and the general public, Prof. Okamoto
spoke on the "Synthesis of helical polymers and their separation into left- and right-handed molecules", while Prof. Lal spoke on the "Soil management
for global food security and environmental conservation".
Prior to the lectures, roundtable discussions were held between the two laureates and young researchers. In both sessions, Prof. Okamoto, Prof. Lal
and the attending young researchers introduced themselves and their research topics, which were followed by a lively questions and answers session.
Both meetings resulted in active discussions, through which the laureates gave their heartfelt encouragement to the young up-and-coming researchers.

"Materials and Production" field"Biological Production, Ecology" field

Topic

Topic

The synthesis of one-handed helical polymers andits application towards enantiomeric separation（Prof. Yoshio Okamoto）

When a compound and its mirror image counterpart are inversely structured in the same way
left and right hands are, it is said to be "chiral", and the two molecular counterparts are called"enantiomers".
The chemical synthesis of a compound results in a mixture that contains equal quantities ofleft- and right-handed compounds (racemates). The separation of this mixture may be necessary
if the resulting product is to be used in the manufacturing of high precision chemicals.
At present, high-performance liquid chromatography that uses "chiral columns" is the mostwidely used method of separation. The "chiral column", which has become indispensable forresearch and manufacturing, was first commercialized in 1982 using the one-handed helicalpolymer, which Prof. Okamoto was the first in the world to successfully synthesize.
The left- and right-handed enantiomers can have different physiological effects, therefore, it
may be necessary to separate the synthesized mixture to obtain the compound with desired
medical efficacy, aroma or taste. When a synthesized compound is used in pharmaceuticaldrugs, the wrong enantiomer can cause unintended side effects. Therefore, it has been
recommended since the 1990s that enantiomers be separated during the manufacturing process.
There are many substances that have a different physiological effect among its
enantiomers, including penicillin (antibiotic), dopa (a drug for treating Parkinson's
disease), naproxen (painkiller), monosodium glutamate (flavor enhancer), menthol(algefacient) and aspartame (artificial sweetener). Many major pharmaceutical drugs thatare sold in large quantities, such as lipid-lowering agents, psychotropic drugs and gastricacid secretion inhibitors, have been manufactured by enantiomeric separation.
The realization of the chiral column was made possible as a result of the enantiomerdifferentiating ability of one-handed helical "poly(triphenylmethyl methacrylate)",which Prof. Okamoto synthesized in 1979.
Up until the success of this "helix-sense-selective polymerization", no vinyl polymers were
known to retain a stable helical structure. A one-handed helical polymer itself is "chiral" innature. Prof. Okamoto coasted this helical polymer onto silica gel and packed it into a column.
When a mixture of enantiomers is injected into the column with the solvent, one of theenantiomers will be bound by its interaction with the helical polymer, thereby letting theother enantiomer flow out first, as it does not interact with the helical polymer ofdifferent twist direction. The basic mechanism of "chiral column" relies on this timedifference to separate enantiomers.
Some polymers with a helical structure, such as proteins and DNA that carries biologicalstructures and information, occupy important positions in the natural world. Their constitutions
were first elucidated during the 1950s. A large number of helical polymers have beensynthesized throughout the world since Prof. Okamoto's first breakthrough, and this area of
research has grown into a major area of synthetic organic chemistry.
Prior to "helix-sense-selective polymerization", Prof. Okamoto in 1977 succeeded in"asymmetric-selective polymerization" when he selectively polymerized one of theenantiomers from the racemate of methacrylic acid ester. This was the first time that achiral polymer was synthesized from a non-chiral compound. The key to the success of
this polymerization reaction was "sparteine", a reagent derived from legume alkaloids
that he stumbled upon through research literature.
In search of easier to use column fillers, Prof. Okamoto has since developed numerous
substances by chemically modifying natural polymers, cellulose and amylose. Today, a wide
variety of chiral columns are commercially available, and depending on the purpose, they canseparate almost 90% of enantiomeric compounds.
Ever since its invention, the "chiral column" has constantly been evolving. With thedevelopment of chemically bonded fillers that do not depend on the solvent, and with theintroduction of new technologies such as the pseudo-moving-bed that enables large-scale
separation greater than that of high-performance liquid chromatography, the range ofapplications for separation of enantiomers is becoming broader than ever.

Sustainable soil management for global food security
and mitigation of climate change（Prof. Rattan Lal）

As a soil physicist, Prof. Lal began researching and addressing the issue of soil erosionin Africa’ s sub-Saharan region during the 1970s. Through this effort, he established the"no-tillage cultivation method", an agricultural technique based on the concept of notcultivating the soil so that a stable level of soil organic matter can be maintained while
increasing the crop yield, and spread this technique throughout the world.
After becoming a professor at Ohio State University in 1987, Prof. Lal conducted
research on the relationship between soil, the food security issue and global
environmental issues using his fieldwork research results. Based on the findings, he hassince been actively promoting the importance of soil management. His efforts have led to
the realization of many international measures including the initiative to "increase soil
carbon by 4/1000 per year".
Prof. Lal began the commemorative lecture on his conclusion by stating "we must havefaith in the soil". He explained that the rhizosphere is the only place in the universe thatcan create life from dead organisms, that the soil up to 40 cm deep globally holds 850
gigatons of organic carbon, and that the benefits of the ecosystem is created by theinterrelatedness of the circulation of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. On
top of these findings, he cited throughout the lecture the abundant data he collected andanalyzed over the years.
On the food security issue, he pointed out that "The population has grown athousandfold in the 10,000 years since humans began farming. Cultivated land has
increased while forests have shrunk. Due to soil degradation caused by the kind of
agriculture that deprives carbon in the soil, the function of the ecosystem has been
weakened. The resulting prevalence of hunger and malnutrition has even caused wars andrefugees". In order to break this vicious circle, he strongly noted that "We must make oursoil fertile and productive again".
In regard to the global environmental problems, Prof. Lal quantitatively illustrated thehistory of how the different approach to land use has led to an increase in atmosphericcarbon dioxide, along with carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuel that began
taking place after the industrial revolution. He shared his unique viewpoint on this matter,saying "The upper limit of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration acceptable from theviewpoint of global warming is 560 ppm, and we are currently at 410 ppm. Thisdifference is equivalent to 320 gigatons of carbon, and that is also the only amount we areallowed to emit in the future. Policymakers must figure out how to divide the 320
gigatons among the global population of 78 billion people.
Based on these findings, Prof. Lal concluded the lecture by discussing the changes
needed in agriculture to support the ever-growing global population. He stated that"Currently, we use huge areas of land and large amounts of water for agriculture andlivestock farming, which also emits a significant amount of greenhouse gases. In the
future, we must aim for the kind of agriculture that produces more while using less waterand fertilizers, and reducing the area of cultivated land so that we can return more landback to nature". As concrete examples, Prof. Lal suggested increasing the organic carbon
in soil through the use of agricultural residues, as well as precision agriculture in which
the processes are fine-tuned according to the condition of farmland and crops.
Prof. Lal's lecture was not a reflection of his past research achievements. Instead, hiscommemorative lecture was a strong proposal to the world on the future of soil, foodsecurity and climate change based on his ongoing research.

Watch the videos of the commemorative lectures online.

www.japanprize.jp

Japan Prize Week
Presentation Ceremony

BanquetCourtesy Call on the Japan Academy

Academic Roundtable Discussion

（MON）

（TUE）

/10

4

真々庵

Commemorative Lectures at the Ito International Research Center

P R I Z E

/94

J A P A N

/8

4

（WED）

Visit to the Foundation Office

Courtesy Call on U.S. Ambassador's Residence（THU）

Sightseeing in Kyoto（SAT）

Katsura Imperial Villa

Shinshin-An

P H O T O S/134W E E K

/11

4

Fields Eligible for the 2020 Japan Prize
The fields eligible for the 2020 (36th) Japan Prize are “Electronics, Information and Communication” and “Life Science” The Japan Prize Foundation has received
numerous nominations from the 15,000 registered nominators worldwide, and the rigorous selection process by the foundation's Japan Prize Selection Committee has
already begun. The announcement of winners is scheduled to take place in January 2020, followed by a presentation ceremony in April.
Area ofPhysics, Chemistry, Informatics, Engineering

Electronics, Information, Communication

Background and Rationale:
The successive birth of various technologies in fields of electronics, information and communication has greatly contributed to human society. Its progress has beenremarkably fast, and in recent years, we are seeing innovative developments in basic technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data, IoT, robotics, semiconductor
devices, optical/wireless network and information security. As a result, for example, the accumulation of enormous amount of information and its sophisticated analysis,
made possible by the convergence of the physical and cyber space, are beginning to revolutionize the industrial structure and human lifestyle.
It is highly anticipated that such technological advancements will not only facilitate economic development but also resolve societal issues, thereby contributing to therealization of a safe, secure and sustainable society that enables innovative lifestyles.

Achievement Eligible:
The 2020 Japan Prize in the field of “Electronics, Information, Communication” is awarded to an individual(s) who has achieved scientific and technologicalbreakthroughs, such as the development of essential technologies or systems that have contributed significantly to the creation of new industries, innovations in production
technology, the realization of a safe and secure society, and improvements in amenity of life, as well as advances in basic science and technology that are highly likely topromote the further development of society.
Area of
Life Science, Agriculture and Medicine

Life Science

Background and Rationale:
In recent years, major advances in life science driven by innovative analysis technology have led to the elucidation of many complex yet subtle mechanisms of life.
Today, analysis technologies such as DNA sequencing technology capable of rapidly determining the entire genome information and its gene expression state, genome editing
technology that can modify genetic information in a targeted manner, and imaging technology capable of visualizing various layers of anatomy from intracellular organelle tocomplex brain tissues, have especially become well established and widely accessible, thereby opening up a whole new dimension in the realm of life science.
It is anticipated that progress in the understanding of the foundation of life phenomena while upholding bioethics will contribute toward the welfare of mankind by creating
new medical care and bringing about wisdom for sustainable human development.

Achievement Eligible :The 2020 Japan Prize in the field of “Life Science” is awarded to individual(s) who has made significant contributions to society by achieving scientific andtechnological breakthroughs, such as the discovery of new life phenomena, proposal of paradigm shifts, and technological innovations that deepen the understandingof biological functions.

The Japan Prize Foundation
The Japan Prize Foundation was established in 1982, with the aim of contributing to the further development of science and technology. In addition torecognizing outstanding achievements with the Japan Prize, the Foundation has been promoting science and technology by hosting the "Easy-to-understandScience and Technology Seminars" and awarding Research Grants to help nurture young scientists.

Research Grants
The Foundation provides research grants toscientists and researchers under 35 years of age. Every
year, the Foundation selects projects in the same fields
as the corresponding Japan Prize and gives one million
Japanese yen for a project. In 2015, studies in “Clean& Sustainable Energy” were added as an eligible fieldof study to the two fields designated for the 2015 Japan
Prize. The Foundation awarded research grants to 270
young scientists since the program’ s inception in 2006.
We reorganize and expand the current systemdrastically and we will start as a completely new one
named “Japan Prize Heisei memorial Research Grant
Program” this year.

“Easy-to-Understand Science andTechnology Seminars”

Stockholm International YouthScience Seminar (SIYSS)For junior and senior high school students, theFoundation holds a series of seminars on advanced
technologies commonly used in everyday life byinviting Research Grant recipients as lecturers.
They explain state-of-the-art technologies in plain
terms. The program began in March 1989 and hassince executed more than 300 seminars acrossJapan.

Each year, the Japan Prize Foundation provides
an opportunity for young scientists to exchange
opinions with their peers on an international levelby sending two students to the StockholmInternational Youth Science Seminar hosted by the
Swedish Federation of Young scientists with thesupport of the Nobel Foundation. Young scientists
from Japan and elsewhere in the world attend
various events during Nobel Week in Stockholm.
Since the program started in 1987, the Japan Prize
Foundation has provided this valuable opportunity
to 62 undergraduate/graduate students.