THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FOUNDATION OF JAPAN (JSTF)

No. 38May 2007

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URL http://www.japanprize.jp

Scientists from France, Germany and U.K.
Awarded 2007 (23rd) Japan Prize
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress Attend the Presentation Ceremony

The presentation ceremony of the 2007 (23rd) Japan Prize, the most prestigious and honored prize inthe fields of science and technology, was held at the National Theatre in Tokyo on April 19, 2007.
The Prize is presented annually by the Science and Technology Foundation of Japan to scientists andresearchers 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 "Innovative Devices Inspired by Basic Research" and "Scienceand Technology of Harmonious Co-Existence." A total of 368 nominations were made by top scientists and academics around the world, 304 for the Innovative Devices Inspired by Basic Researchprize category and 64 for the Science and Technology of Harmonious Co-Existence prize category.
Out of those nominations, three scientists from France, Germany and U.K. were awarded the 2007
Japan Prize.

OUTLINEThe Japan Prize is awarded to world-class scientists and technologists who were credited with original and outstanding achievements
and contributed to the advancement of science and technology,
thereby furthering the cause of peace and the prosperity ofmankind. In principle, original achievements in science andtechnology 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 alsopresented for each prize category.

Innovative Devices Inspiredby Basic Research

Science and Technology ofHarmonious Co-Existence

Achievement:
The discovery of Giant Magneto-Resistance (GMR) and its
contribution to development of innovative spin-electronics
devicesAchievement:
Contribution to the Conservation of TropicalForest

Prof. Albert Fert

Prof. Dr. Peter Grünberg(France)(Germany)

Dr. Peter Shaw Ashton(United Kingdom)

University of Paris-SouthThe Research Center of Solid State Physics

Charles Bullard Professor of Forestry

The Presentation Ceremony
Their Majesties the Emperorand Empress attended thepresentation at the National
Theatre in Tokyo on April 19,
2007. Some 900 prominent
guests attended the ceremony,
including H.E. Mr. Yohei Kono,
the Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives, H.E. Mrs.
Chikage Oogi, the President of
the House of Councillors, H.E.
Mr. Niro Shimada, the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, H.E. Mrs. Sanae Takaichi,
Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Ministerof State for Innovation, numerous ambassadors to Japan,
eminent scholars and researchers, and representatives fromother 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 ceremony andperformed by the Tokyo Geidai Student Orchestra conductedby Douglas Bostock. Foundation
Chairman Hiroyuki Yoshikawa
made the opening address andDr. Nobuaki Kumagai, Chairman of the 2007 Japan Prize
Selection Committee, introduced the three laureates. Afterthe chairmen of the two selection panels presented thereasons for their selections,Foundation President Masao
Ito presented the three 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 three laureates. Finally, a congratulatory speechby H. E. Mr. Yohei Kono the Speaker of the House of Representatives, was delivered.
After the ceremony, the Tokyo Geidai Student Orchestra
performed the commemorative concert.

Address by His Majesty The Emperor
On the occasion of this Twenty-third Japan
Prize presentation ceremony, I offer mysincere congratulations to Prof. Albert Fert
and Prof. Dr. Peter Grünberg for their workon “Innovative Devices Inspired by BasicResearch”, and Dr. Peter Shaw Ashton for hiswork on “Science and Technology of Harmonious Co-Existence”.
Prof. Fert and Dr. Grünberg independently
discovered the giant magnetoresistive (GMR)
effect, upon noticing very large resistance changes whenextremely thin layers of different magnetic materials weresubjected to even slight change in magnetic fields. GMR
magnetic heads, which utilizes this effect, made superhigh-density magnetic storage possible. This then resulted
in large-capacity small-size hard disc drives that are
widely used in personal computers and home electric
appliances, thereby greatly contributing to the advancement of an information-intensive society.
Dr. Ashton has conducted detailed studies of taxonomy
and ecology of Dipterocarpaceae, dominannt trees
commonly seen in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia.

Today, his studies form a basis of a largescale, and long-term, sustainable project tomonitor tropical forests in fourteen countriesaround the world every five years. I believethat studies of this sort help maintain ahealthy state and sustainable use of tropicalforests that are disappearing due to deforestation. Learning that Dr. Ashton studied
Dipterocarpaceae, I fondly recall the Dipterocarpaceae forest near Kuala Lumpur that wevisited, when we were in Malaysia in 1970.
I hereby express my deep respect to the three scientists
for their outstanding accomplishments.
Science and technology provide invaluable blessings to
mankind and society. This is why I feel it so important for
all of us to endeavor so that science and technology willcontinue to develop through cooperation across nationalboundaries and bring benefit to people.
Let me express, in offering my congratulations, mywish that the Japan Prize continues to contribute toward
the further advancement of science and technology forthe true happiness of all.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress arrive at theNational Theatre

Opening address by Chairman Yoshikawa

Report on the Selection by Dr. Kumagai

Citation for the award presented by Dr. Kitazawa

Citation for the award presented by Dr. Iwatsuki

Congratulatory address by H.E.Mr. Kono

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress attend
the commemorative concert

Commemorative concert

Banquet
Following the presentation ceremony, a banquet for the 2007 Japan Prize laureates was held at the Imperial Hotel inTokyo on the evening of April 19 in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan as well as 300
dignitaries including Japanese government officials, 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 three laureates gave speeches of thanks and brought the elegant state banquet toits close.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress arriveat the Imperial Hotel

Opening address by President Ito

Congratulatory address by H.E.Mrs. Oogi

Acknowledgement by Prof. Fert

Acknowledgement by Prof. Dr. Grünberg

Acknowledgement by Dr. Ashton

2008(24th)
Japan Prize
The categories for the 2008
(24th) Japan Prize are "Information
Communication Theory and Technology" and "Medical Genomics
and Genetics". Candidates havebeen recommended through numerous letters of nomination received
by the Foundation from around theworld. The 2008 (24th) Japan Prize
Selection Committee is establishedin the Foundation and the results
will be announced in January 2008.
The presentation ceremony willtake place in April 2008.

Field I: Information • Communications
Prize Category: Information Communication Theory and Technology
The advance and wide-spread use of computers and networks has brought about acyberspace heretofore unknown to humankind. It has made the social structure flexible
and promoted borderless economic activities, extensively widening the living space ofpeople. Based on this trend, the 2008 Japan Prize will be awarded to a researcher who
has made a significant contribution to the field of information communication theoryand technology.
This includes theory of computation, algorithm, computer software, computersystems, computer architecture, human interface, Internet, search technology, information security, visualization technology, information theory, data compression, cryptology, coding theory, radio and optical communication systems, wireless communication
systems, and quantum communication.

Field II: Life Science (Medicine)Prize Category: Medical Genomics and Genetics
Recent advances in genome science and molecular genetics that disclosed 3
billion nucleotides of human genome have led us to a better understanding ofmolecular mechanisms underlying various biological phenomena. Particularly, they
have contributed to the discovery of genes responsible for or susceptible to various
diseases as well as those related to efficacy or adverse reactions of drugs.
The Japan Prize for 2008 will be awarded to a scientist who made outstandingachievements in the field of medical genomics and genetics, including establishmentof fundamental principle for genetic/genomic analysis, construction of basic
infrastructure like genetic maps and genomic sequences, and development ofessential technologies.

Photo recollections of laureates
Prof. Fert
Traveled to Monaco, Spain,and other places together.
(Age 30, 1967)

Shared the joy with his family,friends, and colleagues at theJapan Prize.
With his mother and little brother.
Childhood memory in the Pyrenees
surrounded by the vineyards andthe woods. (Age 3, 1940)

Family photo with all smiles on
the faces of the happy family.
(Age 51, 1988)

Prof. Dr. Grünberg
Awarded the German Prize by thePresident of the Federal Republicof Germany for Innovation andAdvancement of Technology.
(Age 60, 1998)

When he was little, he wanted to
be a Goodman, good woodman.
(Age 2, 1940)

Married Elmer whose interestwas in German and English
literature. (Age 28, 1966)

With his colleagues when he wasretiring. Even now he is mentoring thejunior researchers. (Age 65, 2003)

Dr. Ashton
Off to the forest (Age 71, 2005)
Well prepared, and ready to go into
Sinharaja World Heritage Forest, SriLanka.

With his I ban Dayak collecting teamin Brunei. (Age 23, 1957)

Little Peter is busy cleaning
the window. (Age 2, 1936)

In Sri Lanka (Age 61, 1995)
His wife, Mary is always withhim. They enjoy the growthof the tropical forests as theirgentle smile tell so.

Japan Prize Week
Welcome Reception, April 16

Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister, April 18

The week of April 16 to 22,
2007, was designated as "JapanPrize Week" with many events.

Joint Press Conference, April 16

Courtesy Call on the Japan Academy, April 17

Commemorative Lectures, April 18

Holiday in Kyoto, April 22

Academic Roundtable Discussion, April 18■ Volunteer support for Japan Prize Week ■Various attended the 2007 Japan Prize Week events.
The participants were Dr. Kanami Orihara (NationalResearch Institute for Child Health and Development), Dr. Masahiro Aiba (Tohoku University), Mr.
Takamasa Horiuchi (Wakayama Medical University),
Mr. Tsuyoshi Katagiri (Tokyo University), Mr.
Hiroki Orihara (Keio University), Ms. Miwako Sano(Japan Women's University), Mr. Ryo Tamaki (TokyoUniversity), Ms. Zeenia Kaul (Intemational ChristanUniversity).
Comments from Ms. Zeenia Kaul follow:
I was very fortunate to be able to participate in theJapan Prize Week 2007 as a part of the student

volunteer team. This
experience has not
only been exciting
but also very educational and inspirational. Being able toattend the commemorative lectures, academic discussions and the presentation ceremony was a great honor. Interacting withthe laureates and other distinguished guests has beena wonderful experience filled with learning that will
go a long way. The whole event was very impressive
and will always be a great guideline for me toachieve my future scientific goals.