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No. 51

Jan. 2014www.japanprize.jp

2014 Japan Prize Laureates Announced
Dr. Yasuharu Suematsu whose research has led to the establishment of optical fiber
communication technology indispensable for today’s information society, and
Dr. C. David Allis whose discovery has deciphered epigenetic changes in genes“Electronics, Information and Communication” field

Dr. Yasuharu Suematsu“ Life Science” field

Dr. C. David Allis

Honorary Professor
Tokyo Institute of Technology

The Joy and Jack Fishman Professor
The Rockefeller University

JAPAN

USA

The Japan Prize Foundation has decided to award the 2014 (30th) Japan Prize to Dr. Yasuharu Suematsu of Japanand Dr. C. David Allis of the United States. Dr. Suematsu, Honorary Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology, wasrecognized in the “Electronics, Information and Communication” field for his “pioneering research on semiconductor lasers
for high-capacity, long-distance optical fiber communication.” His research led to a major breakthrough in optical fiber
communication technology that supports global information networks such as the Internet.
In the “Life Science” field, Dr. Allis, the Joy and Jack Fishman Professor at The Rockefeller University in New York City,
was given credit for his world-first “discovery of histone modifications as fundamental regulators of gene expression.” His
discovery has elucidated how chemical modifications of histone proteins, around which DNA wraps itself in the cell’ s
nucleus, affect gene expression, and contributed significantly to the progress of life science.
An award-presentation ceremony honoring the laureates will be held in Tokyo on April 23, 2014.

The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and researchers, regardless ofnationality, who have made significant contributions to the progress ofscience and technology as well as society to serve the cause of peace andprosperity of mankind.

While the prize encompasses all categories of science and technology, twofields of study are designated for the prize each year in consideration ofdevelopments in science and technology. Each Japan Prize laureate receives
a certificate of merit and a prize medal. A cash prize of 50 million yen is also
awarded to each prize field.

“Electronics, Information and Communication” field
Achievement : Pioneering research on semiconductor
lasers for high-capacity, long-distance
optical fiber communication

Dr. Yasuharu Suematsu

Born: September 22, 1932 (age 81)
Honorary Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology

In the early 1960s, Dr. Yasuharu Suematsu, Honorary Professor ofTokyo Institute of Technology, undertook the development of a semiconductor laser which oscillates light used for optical transmission.
In 1981, he succeeded in developing a semiconductor laser thatuses a wavelength band that minimizes loss of the light signal inan optical fiber (essential to long-distance communication), while
maintaining a stable wavelength during a high-speed modulation(essential to large-capacity transmission). This technology greatly
contributed to realizing a high-capacity, long distance optical fiber
network.

Summary
Optical communication network using optical fiber is the pillarof present information society. Dr. Yasuharu Suematsu, Honorary
Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology, has been undertaking
the study of optical communication since the early 1960s, the dawnof the optical electronics age. Dr. Suematsu was also a forerunner intaking a “problem-solving approach” in research. In this approach,levels of performance required by society are projected first, andtheory and experiments are combined to achieve the goal. In the early
1980s, Dr. Suematsu gave shape to his idea of dynamic single-modelaser, which emits light in the wavelength range where the minimum
loss is achieved and has a stable wavelength even with high-speed
light modulation when transmitting information. His research on
semiconductor lasers has greatly contributed to the realization of ahigh-capacity, long-distance optical fiber communication.

Semiconductor laser innovation: The driving force behind
the achievement of the optical fiber network
The term “information society” was coined in the 1960s when
the world was entering a new phase after World War II. The term
refers to a society where information technology permeates and revolutionizes various facets of our lives such as economic activity, culture,
education and daily lives. In order to realize this information society,scientists and engineers have taken on the challenge of innovation incommunication technology. For example, owing to the development inwireless communication technology using microwaves and millimeterwaves, Japan and the United States succeeded in launching satellite
transmission in 1963. In 1979, a car phone service, which was theforerunner of mobile phones, started in the Tokyo Metropolitan area.
Another technology which contributed to the sophistication of theinformation society is optical communication using optical fiber.
Optical fibers enabled transmission of a large amount of data bysending laser light modulated with high speed to carry information
over light waves through optical fibers.

Surpassing millimeter waves in one leap, taking on the challengeof the new frontier of optical communication technology
Dr. Suematsu was born in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, in 1932.
From childhood, he was one of the so-called “Radio Boys,” creating
vacuum-tube radios with his own hands. He went on to go to Tokyo
Institute of Technology, heeding his uncle’s advice, “If you want tostudy technology, TIT is the place to go.”At the university, he was deeply impressed by his mentor Professor
Kiyoshi Morita’s experiments with microwave communication,
and was spurred on to carry out studies in communication himself.
However, as he proceeded with his postgraduate research, he came towonder if microwaves and millimeter waves can handle high-capacity
communication. He thought: “According to Shannon’s theorem, withelectromagnetic waves, the limit in information volume is half thenumber of frequencies. However, using a shorter wavelength, it may bepossible to transmit several thousand times the information millimeterwaves can carry.” When he became an assistant professor in 1961 after
completing his postgraduate studies, he surpassed millimeter waves andchose optical communication as his research theme.
However, it was not an easy decision for him to make as prevailing
opinions in the university at that time were that one should tackle
the task at hand, rather than engaging in research on a technologythat seemed to be far away from practical use. Yet what served asa tailwind was that element technologies that led to the realizationof optical communication sprang up one after another. In 1964,
Professor Junichi Nishizawa of Tohoku University proposed a“self-focusing optical fiber” which made possible a wide-area signaltransfer. Then, in 1966, Charles Kao (1996 Japan Prize Laureate)
theoretically forecasted that low-loss optical fiber is feasible. Thus,
expectations mounted toward a digital communication network using
optical fiber.

Figure 1: Basic principle of a semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser has
structure in which mattercalled the active layer issandwiched between two
types of semiconductors,
namely the n type and thep type. When voltage isapplied to these twosemiconductors,
oscillation of light withwavelength according to
the changes in energy
takes place.

electroden typeactive layerp typeelectrodeLaser beam

Figure 3: Period structure reflector used for the integrated lasern eqΛintermediate spacephase of intermediate space βl = mπ+π/2
waveguide2saintermediate
space
L1
I
L2

laser
period structurereflector

2a

The period structurereflector used for the
proposed single-modelaser by Dr. Suematsu.
By creating anintermediate region
between the two reflectors
place in the waveguide,
light with a more uniform
wavelength was achieved.

The main challenge was to develop an optimum laser for opticalFigure 2: Light wave and the period structure reflectorn typeA boundary surface becomes
the diffraction grating

active layerp typewavelength( twice the width of the diffraction grating )laser
The wavelength of the specificlight is amplified
n typewidth of the diffraction gratingn typeThe light with certain wavelength
gets amplified
and suppress the lightwith other wavelength

When a “zigzag cut” diffraction grating is inserted onto the surface ofthe semiconductor at half the interval of the wavelength, light with afixed wavelength is amplified, and the other wavelengths are cancelled.
Thus, the wavelength of the light oscillated becomes uniform.

fiber communication. In order for information to be passed without
attenuation through such scales as several tens of kilometers or several
hundreds of kilometers of fiber, a laser with adequate wavelength anddirection was necessary. At the time, various types of lasers had beendeveloped; however, with optical fiber digital communication where
information is transmitted in combination of 0s and 1s, information
could not be transmitted long distance with precision when various
types of lights are mixed. A high-precision laser with stable oscillationof a fixed wavelength was required.
Dr. Suematsu’s choice was semiconductor lasers, which were
invented in 1962. A semiconductor laser has a structure in whichmatter called an “active layer” is sandwiched between two types ofsemiconductors, namely the n type and the p type. By applying voltage to the semiconductor, the electrons are transferred between both
semiconductors, light with wavelength corresponding to changes inenergy (photon) results. The resultant light continues to be amplified
within the active layer in order to induce the transfer of the next
electron, and when it exceeds a certain strength, it oscillates as a laser
light (Figure 1).
However, the issue with semiconductor lasers is that the wavelengthchanges with high-speed modulation, and specialists use such
expression as “oscillation mode hopping” or “multimode oscillation”
to describe this phenomenon. In order to transmit digital data, an
unchanging mode (single mode) even with high-speed modulation oflight to carry high-capacity information was required.

Dynamic single-mode laser achieved long-distance optical fiber communication becomes a reality
Dr. Suematsu’s research style of tackling a challenge was uniquefor a university professor. His research stance was to achieve theperformance demanded by the society and university researchers wereto thoroughly pursue a basic theory to arrive at an “optimum
solution.”
For example, there exists a technology in which a period structureof a light reflector is used in order to align the light wavelength.
When inserting a “zigzag cutting” into the surface or inside thesemiconductor at half the interval of the wavelength, the target light of
the wavelength strengthens one another and cancels the others (Figure2). Dr. Suematsu not only pursued the theory of this technology, butalso applied this technology by introducing a device which could
actually be used for optical communication, thereby stabilizing thelaser motion.
Afterwards, he undertook research of an integrated laser. In asemiconductor laser, there is an “active region” which strengthens thelaser light, a “waveguide” which leads the light in a fixed direction,
and a “reflective part” which reflects light. By using a period
structure reflector on the reflective part, and integrating it with theother parts, Dr. Suematsu anticipated that this would become thefoundation of next-generation technology such as the “optical
integrated circuit.” Thereafter, in 1974, 13 years after beginning his
research at the university, he proposed a single-mode laser which
oscillates light with uniform wavelength by placing two periodic
structure reflectors within the integrated “waveguide,” and creating anintermediate region between the respective reflectors so that half of
the wavelength phase is deviated (Figure 3).
Furthermore, when it was discovered in the 1970s that light loss
within the optical fiber is minimal when the wavelength band is 1.5
micrometers, Dr. Suematsu began an independent study of semiconductors and succeeded in the room-temperature continuous-wave
operation of 1.5 micrometer wavelength using an InGaAsP laser. In
the fall of 1980, by means of an integrated laser using with a uniqueperiod structure reflector, he succeeded in creating a prototype for a
1.5 micrometer wavelength band laser. It was verified that lightoscillation was stable even under high-speed modulation in order totransmit data, and in the following year (1981), at the academic
conference in Europe, this invention was presented as a “dynamic
single-mode laser.”
The dynamic single-mode laser proved to be an indispensable

technology in the field of optical fiber communication in the years that
followed. In the mid-1980s, technology using optical fiber for long
distance communication was established and began to be used asinter-city and international communication infrastructure. It can besaid that the Internet, which has become widespread to the generalpublic from 1995 onwards, would not have been possible without thistechnology.
Dr. Suematsu has also contributed toward the sophistication of theintegrated laser technology. In 1983, Dr. Suematsu et al. became thefirst in the world to achieve a variable wavelength semiconductor
laser which can electrically control the oscillation wavelength.
Coming into the 2000s, a new technology, namely, wavelength
division multiplexing was introduced into the optical fiber field toachieve an even faster communication network, and the technology
pioneered by Dr. Suematsu has greatly contributed to this development.
The integrated laser technology pioneered by Dr. Suematsu willcontinue to evolve our information society in the future.

“Life Science” field

Figure 1 : DNA folding structure

Achievement : Discovery of histone modifications as
fundamental regulators of gene expression

Dr. C. David Allis

2 nm
DNA
histoneBorn: March 22, 1951 (Age 62)
Joy and Jack Fishman Professor
Head, Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics
The Rockefeller University

Summary
A human body consists of approximately 60 trillion cells, and mostof them have the same genetic information in DNA (deoxyribonucleicacid). How can cells with the same DNA develop into many different
types of cells to make up the different organs in the body withdifferent forms and functions, such as skin, liver and cranial nerves?
A biochemist from the U.S., Dr. David Allis, tackled this question anddiscovered from his research in the 1990s that enzymes that chemicallymodify histones, proteins found in chromosomes, play a vital role in
the regulation of gene activity. His findings have greatly contributed tothe understanding of the generation mechanism in which an organism
grows from a fertilized egg, as well as to the development of drugs totreat cancer related to abnormalities in histone modifications.

How do various organs result from cellswith the same genetic information?
DNA, which is found within the cell nucleus of living organisms, iscalled “the blueprint of life.” Ever since the double helical structureof DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953,
scientists have been endeavoring to explain how life phenomena arebrought about by means of the information written in the DNA. In
the 1990s, the Human Genome Project commenced with the goal of
decoding the entire base sequence (genome) of the human DNA andwas completed in 2003, 50 years after the discovery by Watson andCrick.
Is it possible to understand all about life phenomena if the base sequence of DNA is defined? Unfortunately, the answer is “no.” While
the Human Genome Project was in progress, it was becoming clear
that, in addition to the genetic information of the DNA, there exists
a mechanism in which a part of the genetic information is selectively
expressed at each cell level and that this system is extremely vital inlife phenomena.
For example, in the human body, there are approximately 300 typesof cells, and with the exception of a small fraction, most have the same
DNA. Despite having the same DNA, they develop into different
types of cells with different forms and functions, such as skin cells andhepatic cells. The characteristics of these cells carry on even after cell
division.
The academic field which studies chromosomes controllingmechanisms without changes in DNA sequences is called epigenetics. Epigenetics has several research themes, such as a phenomenon
known as “DNA methylation.” Dr. David Allis was the first to clarify
in 1996 that a chemical modification known as acetylation occurs on
histones, proteins which constitute the chromosomes in eukaryotes(organisms having a nucleus within the cell), and that such modifications are relevant to the controlling of gene expression. His discovery
has made a significant contribution to the development of the emerging
science of epigenetics.

Fascinated by Real Lab's appeal, taking on the challenge ofthe mechanism of the genetic expression control
Dr. Allis was born in Cincinnati, a major city in southwestern
Ohio, the United States, in 1951. After graduating from high school,
he entered the University of Cincinnati. He majored in biology inpreparation for medical school. However, his advisor suggested
that he experience basic research (Dr. Allis refers to this as the RealLab), which is another forefront indispensable to the development of
medicine. He ended up becoming engrossed with this basic research,in particular embryology, and acquired a doctorate degree in biology

11 nm
nucleosome

30 nm

chromatin structure

chromosome

DNA which extends to 2
meters in length whenstretched out, wraps
itself around proteins
called histones to form anucleosome.
Nucleosomes are further
arranged in a stacked
helical complex to form astructure called
chromatin, which isorganized to form achromosome.

at the postgraduate school of the University of Indiana in 1978.
He then moved on to the University of Rochester and made theUniversity of Virginia Health System his research base. There,
he conducted research on the functions of chromosomes using
various organisms such as drosophila, but eventually focused his
research subject on a unicellular organism called tetrahymena. The
cell nucleus of tetrahymena is divided into a micronucleus and amacronucleus. The micronucleus is not active normally, but carries
on through cell division similar to a reproductive cell of a higherorganism, and cell activity is carried on based on the DNA of themacronucleus.
In the 1990s, Dr. Allis chose histones, proteins that constitutethe chromosomes of tetrahymena, as the essential study theme of
his research group. What, then, is a histone? The DNA in our cells
becomes approximately two meters in length when stretched out.
Histones organize “long strands” of DNA into a cell nucleus just 10
micrometers in diameter in a compact and orderly fashion. DNA
coils itself around granular histones approximately two times toform a nucleosome. Nucleosomes are further arranged in a stacked
helical complex to form a structure called chromatin, which isorganized to form a chromosome (Figure 1).
What the researchers particularly paid attention about histones
was that the region within the DNA which is not used in cell activity
is bound strongly to histones. Conversely, when the base sequence
information is being used, the DNA distances itself from histones,
in a loosely unbound state. What substance regulates the bond
between the DNA and histones? Dr. Allis’ research team continued
to undertake the challenge of clarifying the difference between
chemical modifications in the macronucleus and the suspended
action in the micronucleus when tetrahymena is active.
There proved to be stiff competition developing among researchgroups worldwide. Finally, in 1996, it was clarified that with histonesin the region where genetic information could be read, histone
acetyltransferase which binds itself to the acetyl group is active. In
addition, through the balance between the histone acetyltransferase
and the histone deacetylase, genetic expression is regulated, thus
proving for the first time that changes in the chromatin structure
through histone modifications are actually regulating gene activity.

Study of histone modifications contributes to thedevelopment of next-generation medicine
The discovery by Dr. Allis’ research group served as a catalyst for
the rapid development of studies related to chromosome functions.

Figure 2 : Histone tails and acetylation
acetylation

histones

deacetylation（ in DNA can be read. ）（in DNA can not be read.）

Information stored

Ac

K9

Ac

K14

Information stored

Ac

Ac

Ac

Ac

K18

K23

K16

K5

K8
Ac

Ac

Ac

K56
H3

H4

H2A
H3
Ac

K12

H2B

H4

acetyl group

Histones form a structure known as a histone octamer in which eight small
proteins are bound together. Several proteins have a tail, and when anacetyl group is attached to the tail, DNA binding to histones is regulated.

It also clarified that not only the acetyl group but several othersubstances such as the methyl group also attach themselves tohistones (chemical modification). When probing into the histone
structure, there are eight small ball-like proteins connected together
in a form called a histone octamer, with some proteins having a “tail”
extension. A “histone code hypothesis,” in which it is thought thatmultiple chemical modification patterns connected to the tail function
as a “code,” controlling the gene expression, has been proposed, andstudies thereof are ongoing (Figure 2).
Dr. Allis’ research is also contributing to the progress of medicine.
For example, it has come to light that not only gene abnormalities
but also abnormalities in epigenetics such as histone modifications
contribute to the occurrence of cancer. There has been one report
after another of histone acetylation decrease in certain types ofcancer, and molecular-target drug named HDI (histone deacetylase
inhibitor) which repairs the balance between histone acetylase andhistone deacetylase has been proposed. With “Vorinostat,” the first
HID for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma approved in the U.S. in 2006,
studies of several new drug candidates are underway.
In addition, histone modifications play a major role in governing
the occurrence of organisms, contributing to the progress of regenerative medicine using iPS cells. The research into histone chemical
modifications pioneered by Dr. Allis, will continue to be a vital fieldin the future development of life science.

Nominations 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 winners.

■

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, 2012

End February, 2013

Determinethe fields eligible
for the 2014
Japan Prize
Electronics, Information
and Communication

January, 2014

April, 2014

Announce
the Laureatesof the 2014
Japan Prize

The 2014
Japan Prize
Presentation
Ceremony

Selection Committee

Invite thenominations

Closing of thenominations

Selection Subcommittee
for Electronics, Information
and Communication

Board ofDirectors

Selection Subcommittee
for Life Science

Life Science

Members of the 2014 Japan Prize Selection Committee
Member Makoto Asashima

Executive Director,
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Member Kunio Iwatsuki

Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

ChairmanVice Chairman

Hiroshi Komiyama

Ryozo Nagai

Chairman of the Institute,
Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.
President Emeritus,
The University of Tokyo

President,
Jichi Medical University

Member Yoshio Karita

Director, The Japan Prize Foundation

Member Masafumi Maeda
Executive Vice President,
Professor, The University of Tokyo

Member Masayuki Matsushita

Director, The Japan Prize Foundation

Member Makoto Misono

Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

Member Hideo Miyahara

Professor Emeritus, Osaka University

Member Takehiko Sasazuki

University Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, Kyushu University
President Emeritus, National Center for Global Health and Medicine

Selection Subcommittee for the “Electronics, Information and Communication” field
Member Masahiro Fujita

Professor, VLSI Design and Education Center,
The University of Tokyo

Member Toru Ishida

Professor, Department of Social Informatics,
Kyoto University

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Hideo Miyahara

Shojiro Nishio

Professor Emeritus,
Osaka University

Distinguished Professor,
Department of Multimedia Engineering,
Graduate School ofInformation Science and Technology,
Osaka University

Member Masaru Kitsuregawa

Director General, National Institute of Informatics
Professor, Institute of Industrial Science,
The University of Tokyo

Member Atsuko Miyaji

Special Advisor to the President for Development of
Next-Generation Leaders,Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Member Masayuki Murata

Professor,
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology,
Osaka University

Member Yuji Oie

Vice President and Executive Director,
Kyushu Institute of Technology

Member Hideo Ohno

Director and Professor,
Research Institute of Electrical Communication,
Tohoku University

Member Kiyohiro Shikano

Professor Emeritus,
Nara Institute of Science and Technology

Member Hideyuki Tokuda

Dean, Graduate School of Media and Governance,
Keio University

Member Akinori Yonezawa

Deputy Director,
RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

Selection Subcommittee for the “Life Science” field
Member Yoshinori Fujiyoshi

Professor,
Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute, Nagoya University

Member Kiyoko Fukami

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Makoto Asashima

Masato Kasuga

Executive Director,
Japan Society for
the Promotion of Science

President,
National Center for
Global Health and Medicine

Dean and Professor, School of Life Sciences,
Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

Member Hiroyuki Mano

Member Junichi Nabekura

Professor, National Institute forPhysiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences

Member Haruhiko Siomi

Professor, Department of Molecular Biology,
Keio University School of Medicine

Member Kazuo Sugamura

Professor, Department of Cellular Signaling,
Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

Chief Director,
Miyagi Prefectural Hospital Organization

Member Masayoshi Mishina

Member Yoshiko Takahashi

Professor, Brain Science Laboratory,
The Research Organization of Science and Technology,
Ritsumeikan University

Professor, Division of Biological Science,
Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University( alphabetical order, titles as of December, 2013)

Fields Eligible for the 2015 Japan Prize
Area ofPhysics, Chemistry
and Engineering

Resources, Energy and Social Infrastructure

Background and rationale:

As global population continues to grow, the biggest challenge of this century is guiding human society towards balanced development while
overcoming environmental and resource constraints, and reducing inequalities.
In order to achieve this, innovative base technology is required in such areas as resource and energy utilization, water resources management,material circulation, urban development, and traffic and transportation.
Particularly important are issues such as the creation of new technology for resource development and utilization, promotion of household andindustrial energy conservation, and development of alternative energy technology, as well as renovation of social infrastructure technology suchas disaster mitigation and safety measures.

Achievement eligible:

The 2015 Japan Prize in the field of “Resource, Energy and Social Infrastructure” will be awarded to an individual(s) who has made significant
contributions to society by improving the sustainability of human society and the global environment through scientific and technologicalbreakthroughs, such as the creation, innovation and dissemination of resource utilization technology, energy technology and infrastructureformation technology.
Area of
Life Science, Agricultureand Medicine

Medical Science and Medicinal Science

Background and rationale:

Advancement of modern science has brought about tremendous progress in the field of medical and medicinal sciences. Elucidations of various diseases
and their pathological mechanisms have led to continuous development in the establishment of new prophylaxes, diagnostic methods and treatments.
Amid such circumstances, developed countries are experiencing a rise in diseases brought about by increased longevity and lifestyle changes.
In contrast, many regions around the world still have little or no access to adequate medical care. Furthermore, emerging and re-emerging
infectious diseases are becoming a major issue worldwide with the onset of globalization.
Therefore, it is anticipated that medical and medicinal sciences will further contribute towards the well-being of people in today's changing
times. Those contributions include the creation and dissemination of new medical care in fusion with other discipline such as engineering andinformation science, development and production of new drugs, and development of drug delivery systems.

Achievement eligible:

The 2015 Japan Prize in the field of “Medical Science and Medicinal Science” will be awarded to an individual(s) who has madesignificant contributions to society by achieving scientific and technological breakthroughs in improving people’ s health through new
discoveries and development of innovative technologies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic prediction of diseases.

Fields Selection Committee for the 2015 Japan Prize
Member Kazuhito Hashimoto

Member Kenichi Mori

Member Yoshihiro Hayashi

Member Tohru Nakashizuka

Member Nobuhide Kasagi

Member Noriko Osumi

Member Tsutomu Kimura

Member Masakatsu Shibasaki

Member Hiroshi Kuwahara

Member Atsuko Tsuji

Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry,
Graduate School of Engineering, 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

Director General,
National Museum of Nature and Science

Director, TDK Corporation

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

Director, Center for Neuroscience,
Tohoku University School of Medicine

Principal Fellow,
Japan Science and Technology Agency
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo
Advisor to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology

Senior Corporate Advisor, Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.

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

Staff Writer, Op-Ed Section, The Asahi Shimbun( alphabetical order, titles as of November, 2013)

Schedule (2015-2017)
The fields eligible for the Japan Prize (2015 to 2017) have been decided for the two research areas, as shown below.
These fields rotate every three years, basically. Every year, the Fields Selection Committee announces the eligible fields
for the next three years.
Area of Physics, Chemistry and Engineering

Area of Life Science, Agriculture and Medicine

Year

Eligible Fields

Year

Eligible Fields

2015
2016
2017

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

2015
2016
2017

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