No. 36
May 2006

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FOUNDATION OF JAPAN (JSTF)
Akasaka Twin Tower East, 13th Floor, 17-22
Akasaka 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052, JAPAN
Tel.+81-3-5545-0551 Fax.+81-3-5545-0554
E-mail info@japanprize.jp
URL http://www.japanprize.jp

U.K. and Japanese Scientists
Awarded 2006(22nd)Japan Prize
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress Attend the Presentation Ceremony

The presentation ceremony of the 2006 (22nd) Japan Prize, the most prestigious and honored prizein the fields of science and technology, was held at the National Theatre in Tokyo on April 20,2006.
The Prize is presented annually by the Science and Technology Foundation of Japan to scientists
and researchers who have made substantial contributions to the advancement of science and technology and to the peace and prosperity of mankind.
The prize categories this year were "Global Change" and "The Development of Novel Therapeutic
Concepts and Technologies." A total of 305 nominations were made by top scientists and academics
around the world, 102 for the Global Change prize category and 203 for the Development of Novel
Therapeutic Concepts and Technologies prize category.
Out of those nominations, two scientists from U.K. and Japan were awarded the 2006 Japan Prize.

OUTLINEThe Japan Prize is awarded to world-class scientists and technologists
who were credited with original and outstanding achievements andcontributed to the advancement of science and technology, thereby
furthering the cause of peace and the prosperity of mankind. In
principle, original achievements in science and technology are
given priority during the selection process.
No distinction is made as to nationality, occupation, race, or sex.

Only living persons may be named.
Fields of study for the prize encompass all categories of scienceand technology, with two categories designated for the prize eachyear in consideration of developments in science and technology.
Each Japan Prize laureate receives a certificate of merit and acommemorative medal. A cash award of 50 million yen is also presentedfor each prize category.

Global Change

The Development of Novel Therapeutic
Concepts and Technologies

Achievement:
For pioneering research on atmospheric structure and composition based on his satellite observation technology and for
promotion of international assessments of climate change

Achievement:
The Discovery of the Statins and their Development

Sir John Houghton CBE FRS (U.K.)

Dr. Akira Endo (Japan)

Honorary Scientist, Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction
and Research and Formerly Chief Executive, Meteorological Office, U.K.

Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Director, Biopharm Research Laboratories, Inc., Tokyo, JapanThe Presentation Ceremony
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress attended thepresentation at the National
Theatre in Tokyo on April
20, 2006. Some 1,000 prominent guests attended the ceremony, including H.E. Mr.
Yohei Kono the Speaker ofthe House of Representatives, H.E. Mrs. Chikage
Oogi the president of theHouse of Councillors, H.E.
Mr. Iwao Matsuda the Minister of State for Science andTechnology Policy, H.E. Mr. Kenji Kosaka Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, numerous
ambassadors to Japan, eminent scholars and researchers,
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 cere-mony and performed by theTokyo Geidai Student Orchestra.
Foundation Chairman Hiroyuki
Yoshikawa made the opening
address and Dr. Nobuaki Kumagai
Chairman of the 2006 Japan
Prize Selection Committee, introduced the two laureates. Afterthe chairmen of the two selection
panels presented the reasons fortheir selections, Foundation President Masao Ito presented thetwo laureates with their certificates of merit, commemorative
medals and cash awards of 50 million yen for each category.
His Majesty the Emperor gave a congratulatory address
honoring the two laureates. Finally, a congratulatory speechby H. E. Mr. Yohei Kono the Speaker of the House of Representatives, was delivered.
After the ceremony, Tokyo Geidai Student Orchestra performed the commemorative concert.

Address by His Majesty The Emperor
On the occasion of this Twenty-second Japan Prize presentation ceremony, I offer mysincere congratulations to Sir John Houghton
who receives the Japan Prize for his work on"Global Change" and to Dr. Akira Endo whoearns his prize for his work on "The Development of Novel Therapeutic Concepts andTechnologies."
Sir John Houghton developed a new device
to measure the temperature, structure and composition of the atmosphere surrounding the earth, using
earth-orbiting satellites, and he thereby greatly contributed
to our understanding of global atmospheric conditions. The
instrument he developed is now playing an essential role inmonitoring atmospheric change including the thinning of
the ozone layer and the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Sir John also made enormous efforts to promote international cooperation for protection of the Earth's environment, andto raise awareness of global environmental issues, on thebasis of his findings.

Dr. Akira Endo found and extracted a cholesterol-lowering substance from Penicillium
and patiently worked on and finally overcame
many problems to open the way to turn thesubstance into a drug. High blood cholesteroltends to cause arteriosclerosis and leads tomyocardial and cerebral infarctions. The substance Dr. Endo found became the basis for arange of statin drugs that are now widely used,and dramatically decreased vascular disorderdiseases all over the world.
I hereby express my deep respect to both scientists fortheir outstanding accomplishments, in the areas of environment and health which greatly contribute to people's happiness.
Let me express, in offering my congratulations, my wish
that the Japan Prize continues to contribute toward the advancement of science and technology in a manner to ensure
true happiness.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress arriveat the National Theatre

Opening address by Chairman Yoshikawa

Report on the Selection by Dr. Kumagai

Citation for the award presented by Dr. Hirota

Citation for the award presentedby Dr. Kamoshita

Congratulatory address by H.E.Mr. Kono

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress listen tothe commemorative concert

Commemorative concert

Banquet
Following the presentation ceremony, a banquet for the 2006 Japan Prize laureates was held at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyoon the evening of April 20 in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan as well as 240 dignitaries including Japanese government officials, other ambassadors and ministers, and celebrities from various fields.
And a congratulatory address was made by H.E. Mrs. Chikage Oogi, President of the House of Councilors.
Prior to closing the banquet, the two laureates gave speeches of thanks and brought the elegant state banquet to its close.

Banquet

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress arriveat the Hotel New Otani

Opening address by President Ito

Congratulatory address by H.E.Mrs. Oogi

Acknowledgement by Sir John

Acknowledgement by Dr. Endo2007(23rd)
Japan Prize
The categories for the 2007 (23rd)Japan Prize are "Innovative Devices
Inspired by Basic Research" and"Science and Technology of Harmonious Co-existence". Candidates havebeen recommended through numerous
letters of nomination received by theFoundation from around the world.
The 2007 (23rd) Japan Prize Selection
Committee will be established in theFoundation and the results will be announced in January 2007. The presentation ceremony will take place in April 2007.

Field I: Production
Prize Category: Innovative Devices Inspired by Basic Research
Basic research in science is playing an important role as a cornerstone of our modern society.
Breakthroughs in physics, chemistry and other fields of basic research often come to fruitionin the form of the new materials or devices, eventually leading to the development of a new industry.
The award for 2007 will be focused on accomplishment in developing original findings in basic research into the invention of an innovative device which will likely create a new industry.

Field II: Life Conservation Technology・Life Environment
Prize Category: Science and Technology of Harmonious Co-existenceLife is expressed in each entity at every level of the biological hierarchy such as cells, individuals and eco-systems. All of them show a particular set of features of life. It is also expressed in the network of complex overlapping relationships, direct or indirect and competitive or cooperative, between such systems. Breakage of a network of stable relations between
biological systems causes a disruption, and may eventually result in the destruction of thebiosphere as well as the physicochemical conditions of our mother planet, the Earth. It has
been suspected that the network of biological relationships is ripping apart as a result of human activities. It is thus of urgent necessity to understand the mechanisms underlying--andalso to develop technologies for reasonable management of--the harmonious co-existence ofvarious biological systems. The harmonious co-existence is a much broader concept thansymbiosis and includes any relationship, which fosters living harmoniously together with others, between biological systems at any level of the hierarchy of life.
The Japan Prize for 2007 in this field will be awarded for significant accomplishment in
the science of disruption and stabilization and the technology of protection and restoration ofharmonious co-existence in biological systems in a very broad sense. This includes studies on
the effects of degradation in the atmosphere, hydrosphere or soil-sphere, and of emerging infectious diseases on the co-existence of these entities, and conversely on those changes
caused by disruption of co-existence.

Photo recollections of laureates

Sir John Houghton

In the garden were his brother's thermometerand rain gauge (Sir John:Center)

Doctorate at the age of 23 (1955)

With Prime Minister Thatcher at Hadley Centre
for Climate Prediction and Research (1990)

IPCC Working Group meeting (2001)
With his 16-years-old grandson, Daniel (2006)
At his house with Lady Sheila

Dr. Endo
With classmatesat senior year (1956)

Tricholoma muscarium
Amanita muscaria
Pleurocybella porrigens

High School
junior year (1952)

The source: Yama-kei Publishers co.,Ltd.

Fascinated by the fungi that grew in Akita,
the north of Japan
Dressed up in Chinese costume (Dr. Endo:left)

Playing mahjong-like game at home (1981)

A trip with his students (1988)

Japan Prize Week

Welcome Reception, April 17

Courtesy Call on the Japan Academy, April 18

The week of April 17 to 22,
2006, was designated as "Japan
Prize Week" with many events.

Academic Roundtable Discussions, April 19

Joint Press Conference, April 17

Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister, April 18

Holiday in Kyoto, April 22

Commemorative Lectures, April 19■ Students volunteer support for Japan Prize Week ■Students from various universities attended the2006 Japan Prize Week events.
The participants were Mr. Daisuke Akai (Kyoto
University), Mr. Tsuyoshi Katagiri (Tokyo University), Mr. Kazuyuki Kuroyanagi (Tokyo University),
Mr. Takashi Mura (Tokyo Institute of Technology),
Mr. Yoichi Matsumura (Tokyo University), Mr.
Masayuki Motoyoshi (Hosei University), Ms. Kanami
Orihara (Showa University), Ms. Miwako Sano
(Japan Women's University).
Comments from Mr. Mura follow:
I participated in the Japan Prize ceremony this year
and in related activities, as a student volunteer. It wasa moving and most inspiring experience. The cere-mony itself was mostsolemn and touchingand I pay my deepest
respect to the laureates, whose accomplishments seem tome to be a product ofsuperhuman talent and efforts. At the same time, casual conversations with the laureates reminded me of
the fact that they are humans like us. The experience
as a student volunteer strongly encouraged me tostudy further in pursuit of a dream of becoming agreat scientist myself.