July 1986

No.2

JAPANPRIZE
News

Dr. Turnbull (left) and Dr. Kolff (right), the 1986 Japan Prize laureates, delivering their acceptancespeeches at the Japan Prize Award Ceremony at the National Theater of Japan. Lower left photoshows the distinguished participants on the stage at the award ceremony.

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1986 Japan Prize Awarded toTwo U.S. Doctors

Dr. David Turnbull and Dr.
Willem J. Kolff, both of the UnitedStates, were the honored laureates at
the 1986 award presentation ceremony of the Japan Prize, the international prize awarded for outstand-ing work in the field of science andtechnology, which was held at theNational Theater of Japan in Tokyo,
Japan on April 19, 1986.
Dr. Turnbull has greatly contributed to the technological development of new materials, including
amorphous solids, and Dr. Kolff has
made significant contributions in theresearch and development of artificialorgans and related technology.
The award ceremony was conducted in the presence of H.I.H. theCrown Prince Akihito and was attended by over 1,300 guests including
Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Koichi Yaguchi, Director General of
the Science and Technology Agency
Yohei Kono, and representatives ofthe foreign diplomatic corps andscholars in Japan.
In his felicitations, the crownprince honored the two doctors fortheir achievements and noted, "We
are living in an age marked by remarkable progress in science andtechnology. Whether man will reap
happiness from the fruit of this progress is of exceeding importance. My
hope is that this international prize
will serve to develop the science andtechnology which contributes to thewelfare of the human race."

JAPAN PRIZE

Scientific and Technological Exce])ence Will Usher
Us into the 21st Century
For the Peace and Prosperity ofAll Mankind
Chairman Kisaburo Yokota of the Science andTechnology Foundation of Japan opened the award
ceremony for the 1986 Japan Prize and Prime Minister
Nakasone delivered a congratulatory message stressing
the award's significance. The prime minister stated,"Japan should respond to the expectations of the world
to further development of science and technology,
since they are the important assets of mankind thatwill lead us into the next century."Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone delivering his congratulatory
message at the award ceremony.

The laureates chat with Tokyo Governor Shunichi Suzuki during
one of their courtesy calls.

Japan Prize is the prize for the peace and prosperity ofmankind and the research of artificial organs is also
for that purpose."
A colorful commemorative banquet was held tocelebrate the success of the two laureates on theevening of April 19, 1986 at the Akasaka Prince Hotelin Tokyo .
During their stay in Japan, both laureates werebusy with full schedules that included an audience
with H.I.M. the Emperor, courtesy calls on Prime
Minister Nakasone and other distinguished persons,meetings with scholars, and press interviews. They
also held lectures in Tokyo and Kyoto and received
enthusiastic audiences on both occasions.

The joint press conference held for the laureates at the Akasaka
Prince Hotel.

After the examination committee reported on theirdecisions for selecting the two prize laureates, President
Konosuke Matsushita of the Science and Technology
Foundation presented the awards.
·In his acceptance speech, Dr. Turnbull said, "I consider that this award recognizes not just my own
achievements, but those of the early pioneers ofmaterials science."
Dr. Kolff accepted his award with the words, "I am
deeply honored by this award. This is because theThe lecture meeting with gathered scholars and scientists in Kyoto.

Main Events of the 1986 Japan Prize Week
The "Japan Prize Week" was established to honor the achievements of the laureates and to further the advance of science andtechnology through lectures and scholarly exchanges.
Schedule for the 1986 Japan Prize Week
Friday, April 18: visit to the Japan Academy; joint press conference;
visit to the Science Council of Japan.
Saturday, April 19: courtesy calls on the prime minister and thegovernor of Tokyo; Japan Prize award ceremony andreception banquet.
Monday, April 21: courtesy calls on the governor and mayor ofKyoto; commemorative lecture and meeting withscholars at the Kyoto International Hall.
Tuesday, April 22: commemorative lecture and meeting with scholars
at Keidanren Hall, Tokyo; reception sponsored by theAmerican embassy.

Dr. & Mrs. Turnbull and Dr. Kolff during their visit to the Science
Council of Japan.

Wednesday, April 23: audience with H.I .M . the Emperor.

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JAPAN PRIZE
Profiles of the Laureates of the Second Japan Prize
Dr. David Turnbull

Dr. Willem J. Kolff

Professor of Applied Physics,
Harvard University
Born, February 14, 1915.

Professor of Medical and Biomedical Engineering,
University of Utah
Born, February 14, 1911

Dr. David Turnbull is noted as a great figure in thefield of materials science for his leading theories on thedevelopment of amorphous materials. He perfected
theories on the types of alloys which would easilytransfer to the amorphous phase. Amorphous materials are now producing dramatic results in various
areas of modem industry.
Dr. Turnbull has continued to develop principles
relating to glasses for metals, polymers, ceramics, andsemiconductors.
Highly esteemed as a representative Harvard
scientist, Dr. Turnbull also coedits the prestigious
series, "Solid State Physics."

Dr. Willem J. Kolff is considered the father of theartificial organ, a development internationally viewed
as an epoch in modern medical technology. He was thefirst to develop the dialysis machine and later, concentrated on the development of dialyzers and madesignificant contributions to the widespread use of theartificial kidney.
In 1955, he developed an artificial lung and since1957, he has initiated research on the artificial heart
and all twelve of the world's artificial heart replacement operations are a result of his efforts.
Dr. Kolff is also deeply involved in the researchand development of biomaterials for artificial organs
and prosthetic devices.

Nomination Process forThe Second Japan Prize
The two fields selected for the 1986 Japan Prize
were materials science and technology, and medicaltechnology. In March 1985, a total of 7,337 lettersrequesting recommendations for candidates of the prize
were sent to distinguished scholars in 73 countries,
including Japan. A total of 403 recommendations werereceived from Japan and 24 foreign nations by the June30, 1985 deadline. A breakdown of the recommendations are as follows:
FIELD

NONJAPANESE JAPANESE TOTAL

Materials Science & Technology14746193

Medical TechnologyTotal1585298210

305403

The foundation formed the Second Japan Prize
Examination Committee in July 1985. The committee
consists of 28 authorities from the fields of materials
science and technology, and medical technology, andwas chaired by President Masao Yoshiki of the Science
University of Tokyo who was re-elected from theprevious-year.
As a result of energetic studies and investigations,and a careful examination of each nominee, the committee reached their final decisions and announced
this year's laureates, Dr. Turnbull and Dr. Kolff, inFebruary 1986.

I Fields Targeted for the 1987 Japan Prize
Two scientists will be awarded the 1987 Japan Prize
for work in the following fields:
1. Improvements of Biological Functions .
This includes all technologies which contribute toimprovements in the hereditary qualities of organisms(animals, plants, or microorganisms) or the development of biological functions .
2. Electro Optics
The field of broad leading-edge technology developed through the introduction of new concepts inelectronics or laser technology, including all types of3

lasers and their application to industry, atmosphericand space science and technology, medical science,laser chemistry, optical computers, optical information memories and processing, optical communications, optical measurements, etc.
Over 9,000 letters requesting the recommendationof candidates for the 1987 award were sent at the endof March 1986 to eligible persons in Japan and overseas. The deadline for recommendations was June 30,1986.
The Science and Technology Foundation of Japan and the Japan Prize

The Purpose of the International Prize
In the Fields of Science and Technology
The Science and Technology Foundation of Japanwas established on May 5, 1983 as a nonprofit foundation under the supervision of the Prime Minister'sOffice, the Science and Technology Agency, theForeign Affairs' Ministry, and the Ministry of Education. The prime task of the foundation today is topresent the Japan Prize. The award is a state-level prize,
since, in relation to its establishment, the Japanese
government gave the following cabinet endorsement,
an act not usually performed for specific organizations:· "It is the view of.the Japanese government that theJapan Prize will serve to deepen the understanding ofthe role played by science and technology in furthering
world peace and prosperity, thereby making a vital
contribution to the positive development of mankind.
Based on this judgement, the government agencies
concerned will offer whatever cooperation necessary
to promote the prize." (Cabinet Endorsement, October28, 1983).
The purpose of the foundation is to foster the Japan
Prize as the Nobel Prize of the East for the fields ofscience and technology. The first Japan Prize award
cere~ony was held in Tokyo in April 1985.
The foundation is headed by President Konosuke
Matsushita, executive advisor to the Matsushita
Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., who has made extensive
personal efforts to establish the prize, Chairman
Kisaburo Yokota, ex-chief justice of the Supreme
Court, and a board of directors consisting of renownedscholars and scientists.

JAPAN PRIZE

A Banquet to Honor the Laureates
A wave of toasts was reflected in the candlelight,
congratulatory messages were sounded, and a blend ofsoft voices and mellow laughter filled the air. Suchwas the atmosphere at the banquet held in the presenceof Crown Prince Akihito at the Akasaka Prince Hotel's
Crystal Palace on April 19 to honor Dr. Turnbull andDr. Kolff for their achievements.
Close to 500 eminent scholars, distinguished guests,
including Minister of State and Secretary General of
the Science and Technology Agency Yohei Kono,Tokyo Governor Shunichi Suzuki, Nobel prize-winnerDr. Ken-ichi Fukui, Order of Cultural Merits recipients and honorable ambassadors to Japan were inattendance.

Dr. Turnbull (standing) addresses the guests at the award banquet held in the Crystal Palace at the Akasaka Prince Hotel, Tokyo .

During the course of the evening, the "Lullaby of aSilk Tree," a Japanese song with lyrics by Crown
Princess Michiko, was sung by a female duet to congratulate Dr. Turnbull and Dr. Kolff on their successes.
The performance received enthusiastic applause fromall of the guests including the two laureates.

A female duet entertains banquet guests with the song, "Lullaby ofa Silk Tree."

Official records of all events held during the 1986 Japan
Prize week are being compiled in both Japanese andEnglish. Copies of the book may be ordered through thefoundation.
The foundation publishes the JAPAN PRIZE News inboth English and Japanese twice yearly, with the hopethat the award will receive recognition worldwide as theprize for the peaceful development of mankind throughscientific and technological excellence. Please write to thefoundation if you wish to become a subscriber.
It is the hope of the foundation's members to foster theJapan Prize as a truly significant international award, aprize in which Japan can take pride in and also encourage
the development of cooperation between renowned scholars from various fields. Your frank opinions and comments
about the Japan Prize are also highly appreciated.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION OF JAPAN (JSTF)
Shisei-kaikan 5F, 1-3, Hibiya-koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100Japan

Telephone: 03-508-7691

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