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No. 60

May 2018

2018 (34th) Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony
Three Scientists from Japan, the U.S. and Australia receive the prizein the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress

On Wednesday, April 18th, 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.
The 2018 (34th) Japan Prize was awarded in two fields; "Resources, Energy, Environment and Social Infrastructure" and"Medical Science and Medicinal Science".
Dr. Akira Yoshino (Japan) was recognized for his significant contributions to the development of lithium ion batteries, while
Dr. Max D. Cooper (USA) and Dr. Jacques Miller (Australia) were jointly recognized for the establishment of the basic concepts
underlying modern immunology. A certificate of merit and a prize medal were presented to each laureate.
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 2018, the "Resources,
Energy, Environment and Social Infrastructure" field received 116 nominations, and the "Medical Science and Medicinal
Science" field received 165 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.

"Resources, Energy, Environment and Social Infrastructure" field

Developmentof lithium ion batteries

Dr. Akira Yoshino
Born: January 30, 1948
Honorary Fellow, Asahi Kasei Corporation
Professor, Meijo University"Medical Science and Medicinal Science" field

Discovery of B and T lymphocyte
lineages and its impact
on understanding disease
pathology and therapeutic
development
Dr. Max D. Cooper
Born: August 31, 1933
Professor, Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. Jacques Miller
Born: April 2, 1931
Professor Emeritus, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMessage from the laureate
It is truly an honor to receive the Japan Prize in the presence of
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, distinguished guests, andthe many guests assembled here today.
Batteries are used as a matter of course in our daily lives and may
at first seem to be an unspectacular product. Yet, the secondary
battery in particular has an important function of storing electricity.
Storing electricity in a secondary battery enables us to make various
electronic devices portable. How to reduce the size and weight of thesecondary battery had been a long-standing challenge.
Meanwhile, battery technology belongs to the academic field ofelectrochemistry. It is an interdisciplinary field encompassing
electricity and chemistry, making it a complex and difficult
academic field. Achieving advances in battery technology therefore
requires broad expertise. I consider the lithium ion battery to be aphones, smartphones, laptop PCs and other IT devices. This has
resulted in the rise of the mobile IT society that has greatly
transformed our world.
The application of the lithium ion battery to electric vehicles isadvancing at a rapid rate today. This development takes placeagainst the backdrop of global environmental problems, a major
challenge facing all of humankind. I believe that the lithium ion
battery’ s next mission is to present a solution to these problems.
Encouraged by this prize, I will continue to dedicate myself to suchresearch.
Finally, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to themembers of the Japan Prize Selection Committee, my collaborators
who have devoted themselves to the research and development of
the lithium ion battery, and all those who have supported my work.

fruit of such collective wisdom.
The lithium ion battery achieved the reduction in size and weight ofthe secondary battery, contributing immensely to the spread of mobile

Akira Yoshino

Message from the laureate
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, distinguished guests,
and ladies and gentlemen, it is a very great honor for me to receive
the Japan Prize with Jacques Miller for our work that described thetwo interacting lineages of lymphocytes called B and T cells as theand Robert Good, many wonderful colleagues and students for theiradvice, encouragement and fruitful collaboration.
I also thank my wife, Rosalie, and our family for their unwavering
love and support.
Max D. Cooper

central pillars of our adaptive immune system.
We are especially grateful to the Japan Prize Foundation for thisopportunity to represent immunologists world-wide, whose work has
led to many protective vaccines and to recent success in treating
previously-intractable diseases, including chronic inflammatory andautoimmune disorders, immune deficiencies and cancers.
I would personally like to thank my mentors, Drs. Ralph Platou

Message from the laureate
I am very honored to be here today, standing in front of Their

Thanks to these findings and to the work done worldwide by many,

Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, on the occasion of the

we now understand what happens in many immunological diseases,

2018 Japan Prize award for Medical Science and Medicinal Science,

and we have the ability to deal with them. Most spectacularly, T cells

and it is with great humility that I accept this most prestigious prize. I

can be activated to destroy some types of cancer, and present research

thank the Japan Prize Foundation, the Selection Committee foris focused on how to eradicate infectious diseases like HIV AIDS andchoosing me, and whoever nominated me.

tuberculosis, autoimmune diseases like diabetes and multiple

One of medicine’ s greatest quests has been how to eradicate
infectious diseases and various types of cancer. When I started tosclerosis, and other types of cancer.
Thank you again for awarding me this prestigious prize!

work in cancer research in the late 1950s, nothing was known about
the thymus, which was for centuries believed to be a useless organthat had become redundant during the course of evolution. Due to mywork on mouse leukemia, I had results that proved that the thymus inyoung mice was essential to life because it produced cells, T cells,
that not only could destroy infected cells, but helped another type ofcell coming from bone marrow, B cells, to make antibody. I also
showed that mice without T cells were much more prone to develop
all types of cancer than normal mice.

Jacques Miller

Presentation Ceremony

The 2018 (34th) 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. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Mr. Masaji Matsuyama, 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 Hiroyuki Yoshikawa of the Japan
Prize Foundation. The three laureates received warm applause from the audience as they held up the prize medals and expressed their joy intheir acceptance speeches.
The ceremony was followed by a commemorative concert, in which Tokyo Geidai Symphony Orchestra performed Chiaki Yoshida’ s “The
Journey around Lake Biwa” as requested by Dr. Yoshino, the 7th and the 8th movement of Copland’ s “Appalachian Spring” as requested by Dr.
Cooper, and Beethoven’ s “Coriolan Overture” as requested by Dr. Miller.

Dr. and Mrs. Yoshino

Congratulatory addressby H.E. Mr. Tadamori Oshima,
Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives

Dr. and Mrs. Cooper

Opening remarksby Dr. Yoshio Yazaki,
President of theJapan Prize Foundation

Dr. Miller and his niece

Selection results by
Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama,
Chairman of theSelection Committee

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress
attending the presentation ceremony

Commemorative concert
by the Tokyo Geidai Symphony Orchestra

Banquet

Following the presentation ceremony, a banquet in honor of the laureates was held at a hotel in Tokyo. In response to a toast given by His Majesty
the Emperor, over 300 guests raised their glasses to congratulate the three laureates on their achievements once again. 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 and theirpartners seated by their side. The banquet, which spanned an hour and a half, came to a close with a congratulatory message from President Date of
the House of Councillors and acknowledgement speeches from the laureates.
Dr. Yoshino spoke on the significance of the realization of lithium ion batteries that spurred amazing developments during the IT revolution, which
was unimaginable just 25 years ago. He also expressed his gratitude for recognition and stated that it will be a huge encouragement for scientists andresearchers who face the great challenge of taking this technology into future in the coming 25 years.
Dr. Cooper stated that their work in immunology was built on the pioneering research efforts of numerous researchers on cellular and humoral
immunity. He also expressed his gratitude by noting that this prize is a recognition for the hard work of immunologists worldwide who have contributed
to the development of therapies that use B cell derived antibodies and T cells for autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation and certain cancers.
Dr. Miller spoke of the quest for curiosity that drove him to study and better understand the healthy physiological functions and pathologicalconditions. He also expressed joy that in recent years it has become possible to treat cancer using the patient’ s own T cells without the need forchemotherapy or radiotherapy, and ended by thanking his past research colleagues and mentors who had guided him over the years.

Toast by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

Congratulatory address by H.E. Mr. Chuichi Date,
President of the House of Councillors

Opening addressby Prof. Hiroyuki Yoshikawa,
Chairman of
the Japan Prize Foundation

Acknowledgment
by Dr. Max D. Cooper

Acknowledgment
by Dr. Akira Yoshino

Acknowledgment
by Dr. Jacques Miller

2018(34th) Japan Prize Commemorative Lectures
On Thursday, April 19, the day after the presentation ceremony, commemorative lectures by Dr. Akira Yoshino, Dr. Max Cooper and Dr.
Jacques Miller were held at the Ito International Research Center, the University of Tokyo. In front of 300 members of the audience, comprisedof researchers and the general public, Dr. Yoshino spoke on the topic of “Lithium ion battery: From research and development tocommercialization” , Dr. Max D. Cooper on “B and T Lymphocytes: Integral Pillars of Adaptive Immunity” and Dr. Jacques Miller on “T Cells:
from discovery to cancer immunotherapy” .
Prior to the lectures, discussion meetings were held among the three laureates and young researchers. In their sessions with Dr. Yoshino, Dr.
Cooper and Dr. Miller, all of the young researchers in attendance introduced themselves and their research topics, after which the floor was
open to questions to the laureates. Both meetings resulted in heated discussions, through which the laureates gave their heartfelt encouragement
to the young up-and-coming researchers.
"Resources, Energy, Environment and Social Infrastructure" field
Topic

Behind the success of lithium ion battery
development（Dr. Akira Yoshino）

Lithium ion batteries, made of carbon-based anode, lithium cobalt oxide
cathode and organic electrolyte solution, have seen widespread adoption innumerous applications, from smartphones and laptop PCs that we use every day
to electric vehicles that are on the verge of popularization. The development andcommercialization of this battery were led by Dr. Akira Yoshino.
Dr. Yoshino began his commemorative lecture by explaining the structureof the lithium ion battery using a handcrafted model, then went on to reflect
on the long path of development to commercialization. In 1981, Dr.
Yoshino began researching polyacetylene, a material that was discovered tobe conductive by Dr. Hideki Shirakawa. As he studied its characteristics, herealized it could be a suitable electrode material for secondary batteries.
At the time, small-lightweight primary batteries that used metallic lithium
anode had just been commercialized, and a lot of research efforts weregoing into developing a secondary battery based on this design. Its practicalrealization, however, faced many difficulties, as repeatedcharging-discharging caused the metallic lithium to become highly
flammable. Seeing this situation, Dr. Yoshino came up with the idea ofusing polyacetylene for the anode.
This idea, however, was not without its drawbacks. Unlike metallic
lithium, polyacetylene did not contain lithium ions needed to traverse
between the cathode and the anode to generate electricity. A breakthroughcame when Dr. Yoshino came across lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) which
was discovered by Dr. John Goodenough (the 2001 Japan Prize Laureate) in1980. This was the world’ s first cathode material to contain lithium ions. In

1983, Dr. Yoshino combined lithium cobalt oxide cathode andpolyacetylene anode and demonstrated its viability as a secondary battery.
But when Dr. Yoshino gathered opinions regarding its commercial viability,
he discovered that the industry was seeking smaller-sized batteries. He realizedthat polyacetylene’ s low specific gravity did allow for weight reduction but not
smaller-size. At this point, Dr. Yoshino switched to a carbon-based anodematerial, developed by Asahi Kasei, and in 1985, successfully came up with theprototype of lithium ion batteries that we now use.
In achieving commercialization, Dr. Yoshino first tackled safety issues. He
conducted experiments in which metal balls were dropped on the battery
outdoors to make sure that it would not ignite. Numerous improvements wereachieved as the development progressed. Despite facing a lot of negativity
caused by fire-incidents that were happening around secondary batteries withmetallic lithium anode, Dr. Yoshino persevered, and in the early 1990s he
successfully achieved the commercialization of lithium ion batteries forcompact video cameras. Sales were initially slow, but since the IT revolutionof 1995, the market has seen explosive growth that continues to this day.
The widespread adoption of lithium ion batteries took altogether 15 years;
5 years for research and development to the creation of a prototype, 5 years
for prototype to commercialization and 5 years for commercialization tomarket expansion. “One must consider the market needs when undertaking
research and development” , says Dr. Yoshino. It can be said that thisattitude towards development led to the invention of a product thatsuccessfully met the needs of the times.

"Medical Science and Medicinal Science" field
TopicsDiscovering the existence of T and B
lymphocytes: the basics of modern immunology(Dr. Max D. Cooper & Dr. Jacques Miller)

At the Japan Prize Commemorative lectures, the laureates Dr. JacquesMiller and Dr. Max Cooper gave a talk titled “T Cells: from discovery tocancer immunotherapy” and “B and T Lymphocytes: Integral Pillars of
Adaptive Immunity” respectively.
When Dr. Miller began his research back in the late 1950s, the function of thethymus was still unknown. At the time, he was studying lymphocytic leukemia inmice and became curious about the function of the thymus upon realizing thatdisease was spreading from this organ and began research.
It turned out, a mouse with its thymus removed at birth would develop leukemia
when injected with the virus. However, a mouse with its thymus removed after
adulthood would not develop leukemia. Furthermore, when a mouse with its
thymus removed at birth was grafted skin from a different species of mouse, it
adhered successfully without rejection. When Dr. Miller marked the lymphocytes
to see what was going on, he discovered that it propagated from the thymus to thewhole body. From this, he concluded that the thymus was an immune organ
responsible for the production and propagation of lymphocytes, naming it thethymus derived lymphocytes. Today, we know it as the “T lymphocyte” .
Meanwhile, Dr. Max Cooper, who was a pediatrician, became interested
in the “bursa of Fabricius” , an organ unique to birds, and began researching
it from 1963. At the time, it was speculated that this organ was responsible
for the production of antibodies. One year prior, Dr. Miller had publishedhis findings on the immune functions of the thymus, therefore people at thetime believed there was only one immune cell lineage.
Dr. Cooper noticed that certain young male patients with hereditaryimmunodeficiencies had little lymphocytes but a lot of antibodies, andfrom such clinical experience, had foreseen that there was more than one
immune cell lineage. To confirm this, Dr. Cooper studied the immune
system of two newly hatched chicks, one with the bursa of Fabricius
removed and the other with the thymus removed.
The results were the chick with no bursa of Fabricius would not produce
antibodies but had normal levels of lymphocytes, and the chick with no
thymus had reduced ability to reject skin grafts. Having confirmed that thebursa of Fabricius derived cells were necessary for the antibody response,
and thymus derived cells played a role in graft rejection, he called theformer the “B lymphocyte” after the bursa.
In 1968, Dr. Miller and his research team discovered that T lymphocytes
assist B lymphocytes in antibody production. Dr. Miller concluded his
lecture by explaining how basic research surrounding T lymphocytes led tothe development of modern immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint
inhibitors and T lymphocyte modified immunotherapy
Dr. Cooper and his team, on the other hand, pursued research on the evolutionof adaptive immunity and discovered that the two lymphocyte lineages had beenpreserved through various forms of life from jawless vertebrates to humans.
For the young upcoming scientists, the laureates left the following advice;“Find a field of research that fascinates you and find yourself a good
mentor. Stay on course even when the results begin to look doubtful. Don't
be discouraged if they cannot be translated into clinical practice
immediately because it takes years from bench to bedside.”Japan Prize Week
Welcome Reception

Courtesy Call on the Australian Embassy

（MON）

/17

4

Academic Roundtable Discussion

J A P A N

/16

4

（TUE）

Presentation Ceremony

BanquetCourtesy Call on the residence of the U.S.
Embassy Tokyo Deputy Chief of Mission

Commemorative Lectures

（WED）

（THU）

/21

4

Sightseeing in Kyoto（SAT）

At Katsura Imperial Villa

At Sento Imperial Palace

P H O T O S/194W E E K

Courtesy Call on the Japan Prize Foundation

P R I Z E

/18

4

Courtesy Call on the Japan Academy

Fields Eligible for the 2019 Japan Prize
The fields eligible for the 2019 (35th) Japan Prize are “Materials and Production” and “Biological Production, Ecology.” 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 2019, followed by a presentation ceremony in April.
Area ofPhysics, Chemistry, Informatics, Engineering

Materials and Production

Background and rationale:
The discovery and development of new materials with non-conventional properties and the development of advanced production technologies have brought about
numerous innovations, thereby contributing greatly to the sustainable development of our society and to the improvement of safety in social infrastructure.
For instance, we have designed and synthesized artificial materials, such as semiconductors, polymers, nanomaterials, catalysts and magnetic materials with new
functions, as well as new types of super heat-resistant materials and high-specific-strength structural materials.
We have also developed new industrial technology, such as design and manufacturing technologies supported by computational and data science,high-resolution/high-precision measurement techniques and nanostructured precision control processes, along with robot technology that improves the efficiency of
production processes.
In order to make effective use of finite resources and build a sustainable society for the future, we are in need of epoch-making innovations in the development of new
functional and structural materials, as well as in industrial design, production and operation technologies.

Eligible achievement:
The 2019 Japan Prize in the field of “Materials and Production” is awarded to an individual(s) who has made momentous scientific and technological breakthroughs
by developing materials with new functions, developing new structural materials that support social infrastructure or improving technologies for industrial design,
production and operation, which enable the creation of new products, services and industries that improve the quality, safety and security of people’ s lives, thereby
making a significant contribution to the sustainable development of society or to its potential for great advances in the future.
Area of
Life Science, Agriculture and Medicine

Biological Production, Ecology

Background and rationale:
As we experience a population explosion and face global environmental changes, most notably global warming, overcoming environmental and food problems is critical forthe sustainable development of our society. To achieve this, we must protect the environment, which is the cradle for biological production, and at the same time, increase its
bioproductivity and ensure the ecologically harmonious use of biological resources.
Developments thus far have included advances in production technologies, the creation of environmentally adaptive breeds, the realization of environmentally harmonious
biological production, as well as harnessing the ability of organisms to produce useful substances, and the enhancement of functionality in foods.
There is also a great need for the advancement of basic science and technological innovation in such areas as the conservation and restoration of the environment andecosystems, sustainable utilization of ecosystem service, and ecological forecasting.
In the future, collaboration across various fields, such as geoscience, the social sciences and the health/human life sciences, will be crucial in tackling the issues of biologicalproduction and utilization, ecology and the environment, which cannot be solved independently by any one discipline.

Eligible achievement:
The 2019 Japan Prize in the field of “Biological Production, Ecology” is awarded to an individual(s) who has contributed significantly to the sustainable
development of a society in harmonious coexistence with life and the environment, or to its potential for great advances in the future, through the establishment ofinnovative new concepts and the creation, development and dissemination of scientific and technological breakthroughs pertaining to biological production, as well as
through advances in the basic sciences in ecology and the environment.

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 to scientists
and researchers under 35 years of age. Every year, theFoundation selects projects in the same fields as thecorresponding Japan Prize and gives one million
Japanese yen for a project. The Foundation awarded
research grants to 247 young scientists since theprogram’ s inception in 2006. By supporting the
research career of young scientists and researchers,
the Foundation hopes to contribute to the advancementof science and technology and to the peace andprosperity of mankind. From 2014, studies in “Clean &Sustainable Energy” were added as an eligible field.

“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
through lectures, experiments and laboratory visits.
The program began in March 1989 and with 15
seminars per year, the foundation has so far held 310
seminars across Japan.

Each year, the Japan Prize Foundation provides anopportunity for young scientists to exchange opinionswith their peers on an international level by sending
two students between the age of 18 to 24 to the
Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar
hosted by the Swedish Federation of Young scientists
with the support of the Nobel Foundation. Youngscientists 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 and graduate students.