JAPAN PRIZE NEWSTHE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FOUNDATION OF JAPAN (JSTF)

No.6
September 1989

Shisei-Kaikan SF
1-3 Hibiya-koen, Chiyocla-ku, Tokyo 100,JapanTe l. (03) 508-7691♦♦♦♦♦♦DRS. ROWLAND AND COREY AWARDEDFIFIB 1989 JAPAN PRIZE
Brilliant Achievements in Research in Environmental Science and Technology and Medicinal Science

D1: F Sherwood Rowland

The awards ceremony for the 1989 Japan Prize, the mostprestigious and honored scientific prize in Japan , washeld on April 12 at the National Theater in Tokyo. The
prize is presented annually by the Science and Technology Foundation of Japan to world scientists andresearchers making notable conu·ibutions to the peace
and prosperity of mankind .
. TI1e two fi elds of science and technology designatedfor the prize this year were "Environmental Scienceand Technology," and "Medicinal Science." Two scientists from the United States were chosen to be the recipients from among the combined total of 407 recommendations that were received from around the world.
Dr. F. She1wood Rowland (The University of California at Irvine) was selected as the winner in the"Environmental Science and Technology" categ01y for
his work in clarifying the mechanism by which chlorofluorocarbons destroy the ozone layer. The prize in the"Medicinal Science" catego1y was awarded to Dr. E. J.
Corey (Haivard University) for his pioneering contributions to the syntheses of prostagl,mdins and their related
compounds which are of great therapeutic va!Li°e.

Di: EJ CoreyJAPAN PRIZE

THEIR MAJESTIES THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESSATTEND GALA AWARDS CEREMONYAT NATIONAL THEATER IN TOKYO"All nations must now put their strength together. .."-Dr. Rowland

Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress
headed the list of prominent guests whoattended the gala awards ceremony at theNational Theater in Tokyo, with some 1,100
persons in all, including national ambassadors to Japan, science attaches, noted
scholars and researchers, representativesof political and financial circles, and members o f the press.
The ceremony began with a renditionof Handel's "Water Music" performed bythe Shinsei Japan Symphony Orchestra.
Chairman of the Foundation Dr. Kisaburo
Yokota gave the o pening address, and Dr.
Takashi Mukaibo, chairman o f the Selection Committee, introduced the winners
and explained the rationale fo r the ir selectio n. Chairman Yokota then presented thetwo winners with the Japan Prize certificates of merit, commemo rati ve medals,
and the cash awards of 50 millio n yen.

ADDRESS BY THE EMPEROR (excerpts)"Both professors, with their records ofachievement in environmental and medicinal fields, have made remarkable conu-ibutions to the advancement of scienceand technology and to the welfare of all
mankind. I sincerely hope that in thefuture, advances in science and technology
c:ontin11e to pro,eecl in a positive directi on
for the sake of all the people in the world."

PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE AWARD WINNERS

COURTESY CALL ON THE GOVERNOR OF TOKYO

Ors. Rowland and Corey attended a joint press conference at the Japan
Press Center. Following closely upon the International Environmental
Conference held recently in London, the interest in chlorofluorocarbon regulation was high, and the press concenu·ated their questions
on Dr. Rowland.

The two award winners and their wives paid a courtesy visit o n Tokyo
Governor Shunichi Suzuki. The two men, who are very to nd ofJapan,
earnestly posed questions about the Japanese capital city o f Tokyoand they enjoyed a lively conversation with the governor.

JAPAN PRIZE

A VARIETY OF EVENTS ACCOMPANY JAPAN PRIZE WEEK- INCLUDING COMMEMORATIVE LECTIJRES"Science brings people together. .." -Dr. Corey

After the awards ceremony a banquet washeld at the New Otani Hotel in Tokyo, with
500 celebrities from around the world
giving the event a truly international flavor.
The banquet began with an opening
address by Chairman Yokota, followed bydinner and the introduction of the award
winners together with a short resume of
their careers and achievements. A representative from the government, Director
General Moichi Miyazaki of the Scienceand Technology Agency, then deliveredgreetings and proposed a toast, which wasfollowed by a toast to the wives of therecipients, citing the "invaluable contribution of a spouse's support."-Finally, Dr. Rowland expressed his gratitude: "Having received this warm welcome,this has turned into an unforgettable clay."
Dr. Corey also displayed his appreciation:"Science is fulfilling its role of bringing
people together." The speeches were
greeted with a wa rm round of applausefrom the guests, and a congenial atmosphere pe1vaded the banquet.
The week during which the award ceremony was held was designated as 'Japan
Prize Week" The recipients visited theImperial Palace, took pan in commemorative lectures and academic m eetings inTokyo and Kyoto, and paid courtesy callson the governors of Tokyo and Kyoto.

·- ,. .
-.. , ~~'COMMEMORATIVE LECTURE MEETINGSHOLIDAY IN KYOTO

The winners gave commemorative lectures to capacity audiences bothin Tokyo at the Asal1i Hall and in Kyoto at the National Kyoto International Hall. Leading scie ntists, technicians, researchers, and numerous members of the general public attended.

Finding respite from their busy schedules, the recipients enjoyed atour of Nijo Castle. Strolling through a Japanese garden under cherry
blossoms in full bloom, the two doctors enjoyed the beauty of traditional Japan to the fullest.

JAPAN PRIZE- - - - T H E JAPAN P R I Z E - - - The Japan Prize is an inte rnational award presented to scientists
and researchers who have record ed notable, creative achievements
in science and techno logy, contributed to the progress of th ese
fi e lds, and helped to promote peace and prosperi ty for mankind.
Two separate fi elds of science and technology are d esignatedfor th e award each year, w ith an independent selection committee
selecting the w inners from candidates recommended on a global
basis.
In recognition of the ir achievements, the winners receive aJapan Prize cenificate of m erit, commemorative medal, and cash
award of 50 million yen ( for each catego1y). The awards ceremony
and congratulat01y banquet are he ld in April, and with membersof political and economic circles, scientists, and prominent persons
from all fi elds, th e guests number well over a thousand.
This year marked the fifth time that the Prize has been awarded.
Those honored in these fi ve years are as follows:1985 (First)
Information and Communications
Dr. John R. Pierce (USA)

Biotechnology
Dr. Ephriam Kachalski-Katzir (Israel)

1986 (Second)Materials Science and Technology
Dr. David Turnbull (USA)

Medical Technology
Dr. Willem]. Kolff (USA)1987 (Third)
Improvements of Biological Functions
Dr. He nry M. Beachell (USA)Dr. Gurdev S. Khush (India)

Electro-Optics
Dr. Theodore H. Maiman (USA)

SELECTION OF 1990 JAPAN PRIZE
WINNERS BEGINS
The two fields designated for the sixth Japan Prize in 1990
are the "Technology of Integration- Design, Production, andControl Technologies" and "Earth Science." Remarkableachievements are consistently being achieved in the fields ofscience and technology, but for the sixth Japan Prize twocomprehensive fields of science and technology which defy
application of existing boundaries in the academic world wereselected. The preparations for the selection of next year's
winners are already under way with numerous letters of recommendation gathered from nations around the world.

Technology of Integration- Design, Production, and Control Technologies
After scientific research has yielded inventions, discoveri es andnew underst,mding, a number o f technological steps must still
be taken before these results can be transformed into productsthat will enhance the quality of human life. Appropriate products
must be designed and methods developed to produce themefficiently. Funhennore, control technologies governi ng their production and operation will also have to be established. Indeed,
there are already many examples of significant conu·ibutions to
the welfare of human society made by tl1is d uster of technologies
that might be termed the "technology of integration."
The technology of integration is based upon a wide variety of
disciplines such as the mathematical and computational sciences,
information science, systems engineering, conu'Ol theo1y, robotics,
material processing and machining, and production engin eering.
The prize wi ll be awarded for achievements in tl1e integration oftechnologies that results in products of significant use to mankind,or in the basic disciplines listed above that are necessary for suchintegration, or in the design, prod uction, and control technologies
that are used in tl1is integration.

Earth Science
The advancement of earth science has deepened our comprehension of a wide variety of natural phenomena that have profound impact on our daily lives, such as weather, earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions.
The term "Earth Science" should be interpreted as referring
to a comprehensive science wh ich focuses on the earth as aplaneta1y mass, encompassing botl1 basic and appLied researchin all related fields.
1l1e prize will be awarded for achievements not only in theestablished fi elds of geoscience such as geology, seismology,meteorology, oceanography and so on but also in newly developed
multi-disciplina1y fields such as global tectonics, atmospheric andspace sciences, radiometric and magnetic chronologies, earth
resource sciences, surveying technology, etc.

1988 (Fourth)
Energy Technology
Dr. Georges Vend1yes (France)

Preventative Medicine
Dr. Donald A. Henderson (USA)Dr. Isao Arita Qapan)
Dr. Frank Fenner (Australia)
Dr. Luc Montagnier (France)
Dr. Robert C. Gallo (USA)1989 (Fifth)
Environmental Science and Technology
Dr. F. She1wood Rowland (USA)

Medicinal Science
Dr. E. J. Corey (USA).---- OBITUARY - - - - - - - - - - - Konosuke Matsushita, president of the Science and Technology Foundation of Japan,
passed away on April 27 at theage of 94. President Matsushita
was founder of the Matsushita
Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. anddo nated funds toward the establishment of the Japan Prize.
He served as th e president ofthe Science and Technology
Foundation of Japan since its
founding in 1985.