Fields Eligible for the 2020 Japan Prize

Nomination and Selection Process■

Every November, the Field Selection Committee of The Japan Prize Foundation designates and announces two fields inwhich the Japan Prize will be awarded two years hence. At the same time, the Foundation calls for over 15,000 nominators,
strictly comprised of prominent scientists and researchers from around the world invited by the Foundation, to nominate thecandidates through the web by JPNS (Japan Prize Nomination System). The deadline for nominations is the end of Februaryof 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 froma wider perspective, including contributions to the progress of science and technology, and significant advancement
towards the cause of world peace and prosperity, and finally the selected candidates are recommended 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 two years from the time that the fields are decided. Every January, thewinners of that year’s Japan Prize are announced. The Presentation Ceremony is held in April in Tokyo.

July - October, 2017

Considerthe fields
eligiblefor the 2019Japan Prize

November
Determinethe fields eligible
for the 2019Japan Prize
Materials andProduction

End February, 2018

NovemberJanuary, 2019

April

Selection Committee

Invite thenominations

Closing of
thenominations

Selection Subcommittee
for Materials andProduction

Board ofDirectors

Announce
the Laureatesof the 2019Japan Prize

The 2019
Japan Prize
Presentation
Ceremony

Selection Subcommittee
for Biological Production,
Ecology

Biological Production,
EcologyMembers of the 2019 Japan Prize Selection Committee
MemberYoshinori Fujiyoshi

Guest Professor
Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute, Nagoya University

ChairmanVice Chairman

Makoto Asashima

Yoshinao Mishima

Research Professor
Academic Advisor, Teikyo University
Academic Advisor, Japan Society
for the Promotion of Science
Professor Emeritus
The University of Tokyo

Former President
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Professor Emeritus
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Yoshihiro Hayashi

President/Director General
National Museum of Nature and Science

Yoshio Karita

Former Grand Master of the Ceremonies
Imperial Household Agency

Kazunori Kataoka

Professor Emeritus, Project Professor, The University of Tokyo
Director General of Innovation Center of NanoMedicine

Yoichiro Matsumoto

President
Tokyo University of Science

Masayuki Matsushita

Director
The Japan Prize Foundation

Shojiro Nishio

President
Osaka University

Tadatsugu Taniguchi

Professor Emeritus, Advisor to the Office of President
The University of Tokyo

Area ofPhysics, Chemistry,
Informatics, Engineering

Electronics, Information and Communication

Background and rationale:

The successive birth of various technologies in fields of electronics, information and communication has greatly contributed to human society. Its
progress has been remarkably fast, and in recent years, we are seeing innovative developments in basic technologies, such as artificial intelligence, bigdata, IoT, robotics, semiconductor devices, optical/wireless network and information security. As a result, for example, the accumulation of enormous
amount of information and its sophisticated analysis, made possible by the convergence of the physical and cyber space, are beginning to revolutionize
the industrial structure and human lifestyle.
It is highly anticipated that such technological advancements will not only facilitate economic development but also resolve societal issues, thereby
contributing to the realization of a safe, secure and sustainable society that enables innovative lifestyles.

Achievement eligible:

The 2020 Japan Prize in the field of “Electronics, Information and Communication” is awarded to an individual(s) who has achieved scientificand technological breakthroughs, such as the development of essential technologies or systems that have contributed significantly to the creationof new industries, innovations in production technology, the realization of a safe and secure society, and improvements in amenity of life, as wellas advances in basic science and technology that are highly likely to promote the further development of society.
Area of
Life Science, Agricultureand Medicine

Life Science

In recent years, major advances in life science driven by innovative analysis technology have led to the elucidation of many complex yet subtle
mechanisms of life.
Today, analysis technologies such as DNA sequencing technology capable of rapidly determining the entire genome information and its gene expression
state, genome editing technology that can modify genetic information in a targeted manner, and imaging technology capable of visualizing various layersof anatomy from intracellular organelle to complex brain tissues, have especially become well established and widely accessible, thereby opening up awhole new dimension in the realm of life science.
It is anticipated that progress in the understanding of the foundation of life phenomena while upholding bioethics will contribute toward the welfare of
mankind by creating new medical care and bringing about wisdom for sustainable human development.

Achievement eligible:

The 2020 Japan Prize in the field of “Life Science” is awarded to individual(s) who has made significant contributions to society by achieving scientificand technological breakthroughs, such as the discovery of new life phenomena, proposal of paradigm shifts, and technological innovations that deepen theunderstanding of biological functions.

Professor
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Kazunori Kataoka

Toru Okabe

Professor, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Professor, Center for Energy & Environmental Science
Shinshu University

Professor Emeritus
Project Professor
The University of Tokyo
Director General of Innovation
Center of NanoMedicine

Professor
Institute of Industrial Science
The University of Tokyo

Chief Scientist
Advanced Device Laboratory, RIKEN

Professor
School of Life Science and Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Yasuhiro Koike

Kyoko Nozaki

Atsushi Maruyama

Professor
Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University

Professor
School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Toshihiko Koseki

Tamio Oguchi

Professor
School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Yozo Fujino

Kazue Kurihara

Kazuyuki Kuroda

Koji Ishibashi

ChairmanVice Chairman

Michiharu Nakamura

Kazuhito Hashimoto Kohei Miyazono

Vice Chairman

Counselor to the President
Japan Science andTechnology Agency
Director
The Japan Prize Foundation

President
National Institute forMaterials Science

Professor
Department of Molecular Pathology
Graduate School of Medicine
The University of Tokyo

Kazuyuki Inubushi
Futoshi Nakamura

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Yoshihiro Hayashi

Hiromichi Nagasawa

President/Director General
National Museum of Natureand Science

Professor Emeritus
The University of Tokyo

Professor
Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

Taikan Oki

Professor, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S)The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS)The University of Tokyo

Masakazu Shimada

Professor
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Tatsuya Sugawara

Professor
Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University

Katsumi Tsukamoto

Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo
Specially Appointed Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Tetsukazu Yahara

Professor
Department of Biology, Kyushu University

Keitaro Yamanouchi

Associate Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The University of Tokyo( alphabetical order, titles as of January, 2019)

President
National Agriculture and Food Research
Organization

Ken Furuya

Eiichi Nakamura

Mariko Hasegawa

Yuichi Sugiyama

Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
Soka University
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

President
SOKENDAI(The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)

Masaru Kitsuregawa

Endowed Professor
Office of the President and Department of Chemistry
The University of Tokyo

Head, Sugiyama Laboratory
RIKEN Baton Zone Program

Mariko Takahashi

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

Professor
The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research
Osaka University

MemberKazuo Kyuma

Distinguished Professor
Institute of Advanced Sciences
Yokohama National University

Science Coordinator
The Asahi Shimbun

Masayuki Yamamoto

Director General
National Institute for Basic Biology

Selection Subcommittee for the “Biological Production, Ecology” field

Professor
Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University

Prof. Yoshio Okamoto

Distinguished Invited University Professor, Nagoya University
Chair Professor, Harbin Engineering University

Fields Selection Committee for the 2020 Japan Prize

MemberKazunari Domen“Biological Production, Ecology” field

Background and rationale:

Japan

Professor
New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University

Jan. 2019

This year’s Japan Prize will be awarded to Prof. Yoshio Okamoto who established the concept of asymmetricpolymerization for the creation of helical polymers, and developed the results into a practical separation method
for optically active drugs, and to Prof. Rattan Lal who proposed and practiced the sustainable soil management methodthat contributes to both the stability of food security and environment conservation for climate change mitigation

MemberPrincipal Investigator
WPI Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics
National Institute for Materials Science

No. 612019 Japan Prize Laureates Announced“Materials and Production” field

Selection Subcommittee for the “Materials and Production” field
Katsuhiko Ariga

ARK Mori Building, East Wing 35th Floor, 1-12-32
Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6035, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5545-0551 Fax: +81-3-5545-0554
www.japanprize.jp
Twitter @JapanPrizeAward Instagram @JapanPrize(alphabetical order, titles as of November, 2018)

Schedule (2020-2022)

The fields eligible for the Japan Prize (2020 to 2022) have been decided for the two research areas, respectively.
These fields rotate every year in a three year cycle.
Every year the Fields Selection Committee announces the eligible field for the next three years.
Area of Physics, Chemistry and Engineering

Area of Life Science, Agriculture and Medicine

Year

Eligible Fields

Year

2020
2021
2022

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

2020
2021
2022

Eligible Fields
Life Science
Medical Science, Medicinal Science
Biological Production, Ecology/ EnvironmentProf. Rattan Lal

Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science
Director, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center
The Ohio State University
United States of America

The Japan Prize Foundation has decided to award the 2019 (35th) Japan Prize to Prof. Yoshio Okamoto of Japan and Prof. Rattan Lal of the United States of America.
In the prize field of “Materials and Production” , Prof. Yoshio Okamoto is being honored for his “leading contributions to precision synthesis of helical polymers anddevelopment of practical chiral materials for separating chiral drugs” .
Prof. Okamoto has contributed enormously to the development of basic science and industry by establishing the groundbreaking concept of asymmetric polymerization forthe creation of helical polymers and developed the results into a practical separation method for optically active drugs.
His research has made it possible to efficiently separate the numerous enantiomers which had been deemed very difficult in the past, achieved its practical application andeven led to the development of the most used chiral filler in the world. In order to produce drugs with high efficacy and no side effects, it is essential to obtain a single
enantiomer (chiral drug). By using the chiral filler material developed by Prof. Okamoto, it is possible to separate chiral drugs by the tons. The chiral separation businessbased on this technology is now benefiting researchers from all over the world. In this way, the technology that originated from Prof. Okamoto’s basic research, which
was then adapted for practical application through applied research, has since contributed enormously to the creation of pharmaceuticals and other chiral substances.
In the prize field of “Biological Production, Ecology” , Prof. Rattan Lal is being honored for the establishment of “sustainable soil management for global food security
and mitigation of climate change” .
Prof. Lal has been successful in establishing technological options adapted to various ecosystems through his deep academic exploration to prevent soil degradation
caused by inappropriate biological production, as well as to propose the best soil management that reduces the effects on climate change and improves the environmental
quality to cope with the issue of feeding the earth’s population, which is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
Prof. Lal proposed the no-tillage cultivation method that ensures stable biological production and prevents soil erosion and practiced the concept widely around the world.
Furthermore, the technique he proposed to sequestrate atmospheric CO2 into the soil using crops can also provide numerous secondary effects, such as enhanced foodsecurity, reduced water pollution and biodiversity conservation at a low cost.
In this manner, Prof. Lal has not only pursued the principle of natural science and the adoptions of its technological applications in society, but has also demonstrated tosociety the importance of soil, which sustains biological production and affects the global environment. While enlightening the general public on this issue, he has alsobrought together international efforts to promote soil conservation with policy makers.
As described, the achievements of Prof. Yoshio Okamoto and Prof. Rattan Lal are deemed most eminently deserving of the Japan Prize, which honors contributions to
the advancement of science and technology that further the cause of peace and prosperity for all mankind.
The award presentation ceremony to honor the laureates will be held on the 8th of April this year at the National Theatre in Tokyo.

The Japan Prize came into being in 1982 after the late Mr. Konosuke
Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now known as
Panasonic Corporation), made a personal donation in response to the thengovernment’s wish to create a prestigious international prize for scientists fromaround the world as a token of gratitude to the international community. Withcabinet endorsement, the prize was first awarded in 1985. The Japan Prize honors

those whose original and outstanding achievements are not only scientificallysignificant, but have also served to promote peace and prosperity for all
mankind. Each year, the foundation designates two fields for award
presentation in consideration of developments in science and technology. EachJapan Prize laureate receives a certificate of merit and a prize medal. A cash
prize of 50 million yen is also presented to each prize category.

"Materials and Production" Field
Achievement : Leading contributions to precision synthesis ofhelical polymers and development of practicalchiral materials for separating chiral drugs

Prof. Yoshio Okamoto (Japan)

Born: January 10, 1941 (Age: 78)
Distinguished Invited University Professor, Nagoya University
Chair Professor, Harbin Engineering University

Summary
Even among two molecules of the same chemical composition, somehave a three-dimensional structure with a mirror image that cannot besuperimposed on to the other, as it is the case with our left and righthand. Such molecules are said to be in an enantiomeric relationship.
Among enantiomers, physical properties such as the melting point andboiling point are the same, but their physiological effects on the humanbody can differ. This can cause major problems for the production ofpharmaceuticals.
Despite the above being the case, ordinary chemical synthesis canonly produce enantiomer mixtures. Along with the advancement of thetechnique for synthesizing only one hand of the molecule with a catalyst,
the convenient method for separating the generated mixture has alsocome to be widely used. This was made possible by helical polymers.
When one-handed helical polymer is coated onto silica gel, packed in acolumn and enantiomer mixture is injected through, the enantiomer thatis more prone to being captured by the helical polymer remains in thecolumn for a long period of time, and the other enantiomer that is lessprone to being captured flows out first.
Prof. Yoshio Okamoto was the first in the world to achieve thesynthesis of a one-handed helical polymer, and even demonstrated
its utility in the separation of enantiomers. Today, products that havebeen derived from the application of these discoveries are being widelyused throughout the world for the research & development and the
manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, aroma chemicals and functional
materials. Prof. Okamoto's achievements that span the advancement ofbasic polymer synthesis science to its practical application are highly
regarded by the international community.

The different physiological effects among enantiomers
Enantiomers with different three-dimensional structures, like our left
and right hand, often have different physiological effects on the body
(Figure 1).
With menthol, for example, one of the enantiomers has the aroma ofmint, but the other has very little aroma. With monosodium glutamate,
the umami seasoning is derived only from one of the enantiomers,
as red blood cells can only carry just one of the enantiomers when transporting glucose. The ability of organisms to distinguish enantiomers
is related to the fact that the proteins that make up the living body arecomposed of amino acids from just one of the enantiomers.
One of the reasons that enantiomers have attracted public attention
was the Thalidomide drug disaster that occurred during the early
1960s. Thalidomide has two types of enantiomers. Although one has
the effect of a sleep-inducing drug, the other can sometimes cause
malformation of the fetus when taken by a pregnant woman. At thattime, the difference in the pharmacological effects of enantiomers was
not well understood, which led to a series of serious drug poisoning
incidents. It was much later that the technique to selectively synthesize
different enantiomers (asymmetric synthesis) and the technique toseparate different enantiomers (chiral resolution) were developed,
hence enabling us to examine the various effects on body. Today, we
also know that both enantiomers are partially inverted in the body.
Ordinary chemical synthesis can only produce mixtures of enantiomers
with equal proportions. In the development and manufacturing of many
chemical products, there was a major demand for the technique to selectively obtain just the useful enantiomers with a high degree of precisionand efficiency. This was particularly an important aspect in the development of pharmaceutical drugs where efficacy and safety are crucial.

Column for high-precision separation of enantiomers
Amid these circumstances, there was a growing need for asymmetricsynthesis, the technique to selectively obtain just one of the enantiomers, and chiral resolution, the technique to separate enantiomers.
From the 1980s onward, there was substantial progress in the
research & development of asymmetric synthesis for selectively synthesizing the desired enantiomers using a catalyst. However, synthesis
with high precision is not easy even with today's technology.
Meanwhile, the chiral resolution technique, which is highly convenient
for separating target substances from synthesized mixtures, saw majoradvances and widespread adoption. Among them, chiral resolution by
way of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) has especiallyseen high adoption in research & development and the production field forbeing a versatile technique capable of high precision separation. In HPLC,
the mixture of enantiomers is injected into the column with the solvent,then separated by utilizing the time difference with which the substances
flow out. By infusing the column's filler with a substance that captures
one of the enantiomers, the other enantiomer can flow out faster, thereby
enabling the separation of the two with high precision and efficiency.
The revolutionary substance that led to the realization of chiral resolution
by HPLC was the helical polymer that Prof. Okamoto succeeded in synthesizing in 1979. The one-handed helical polymer can recognize and capture
just one of the enantiomers. As it is easy for two right hands to be shaken,
and is difficult for the left and right hand to be shaken, precision separation
was achieved by the mechanism in which one of the enantiomers stays in
the column (easy to handshake) and the other flows out faster (difficult
to handshake) (Figure 2). Based on this breakthrough, Prof. Okamoto
embarked on a joint research with a domestic chemical manufacturer, andin 1982, commercialized the world's first practical chiral resolution column
for polymeric HPLC.

The chemical synthesis of one-handed helical polymers
Early during his polymer research, Prof. Okamoto worked on “asymmetric selective polymerization”, a chemical reaction to polymerize
just one of the enantiomers in an enantiomer mixture. Although many
researchers had worked on this matter, none were able to produce goodresults. However, Prof. Okamoto in 1977 realized the asymmetric selective polymerization with high selectivity by using a catalyst derived
from natural substances. Following this breakthrough, he used the samecatalyst to achieve the world's first "helix-selective polymerization"
which is the selective polymerization of one-handed helical polymers.
A left-handed helix and a right-handed helix have a symmetrical three-dimensional structure when reflected onto a mirror, and are in an enantiomeric
relationship with each other (Figure 1). Prof. Okamoto confirmed that if amolecule he had been experimenting with was polymerized, a bulky structure
would generate on one side of the polymer chain which consequently generated a stable one-handed helix even in solutions. Until then, the conditions
under which helical polymers could retain its stable structure in solutions had

MirrorFigure1: Molecules in an enantiomeric relationship and left andright-handed helical polymers

Enantiomeric mixture

Two right hands areeasy to hand shake

Figure2:
Separation of enantiomers bya helical polymer column
When the mixture is injected
into the column ofHigh-Performance Liquid
Chromatography, thecharged helical polymer
captures one of theenantiomers. The otherenantiomer flows out first
because it is harder to catch.
This mechanism enables
high-precision separation ofenantiomers.

More easily capturedby the column
The Left andright hand are
diﬃcult to handshake

Flows out ﬁrst

been unknown. Furthermore, no one had predicted that a stable one-handed
helical polymer could be formed by polymerizing such a molecule.
This breakthrough greatly stirred up the field of organic synthetic
chemistry and the synthesis of helical polymers have since been actively
pursued by researchers all over the world. Helix is the fundamental
structure of biopolymers responsible for biological phenomena such asproteins, DNA and polysaccharides, and is the primary factor that gives
rise to the advanced and diverse functions of life forms.
With so much potential, helical polymers are substances of great appeal.
As research on the synthesis and dynamics of helical polymers move
forward, a new field of helical polymer science has also been expanding.
Today, there is high anticipation surrounding its applications toward
catalysts and nanomaterials.

Achievements that span from basic research all the way
through to practical applications
Prof. Okamoto studied the functions of helical polymers he had synthesized
and confirmed its ability to distinguish enantiomers. As a result, the aforementioned column filler was born. In search of filler material with better separation
capacity, he next focused on cellulose and amylose, which are polymers ofnatural polysaccharides. To examine their functions, he made various chemical
modifications to these macromolecules and succeeded in obtaining a filler withhigher capacity.
Today, the HPLC column with filler material made of polysaccharide-infused silica gel is used by the overwhelming majority of research institutions
and companies around the world. This column, which can separate enantiomers at a very high success rate, has not only contributed to the research &development of pharmaceuticals, aroma chemicals and functional materials
but has also been widely adopted in the production field, thereby enabling
the separation of enantiomers in tons.
Currently, many pharmaceutical drugs such as antidepressants, antiepileptics and hyperlipidemia drugs are manufactured using chiral resolution
column with polysaccharide fillers.
It has also played an important role in the production and development ofesomeprazole, a gastric acid secretion inhibitor, of which the global annual
sales (up to June 2014) amounted to 894 billion Yen ($8.83 billion USD).
With the advancement of chiral resolution technology, it has been recommended in Japan since the mid-1980s that the manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs
take enantiomers into account and only use the more effective enantiomer.
In this manner, Prof. Okamoto's achievements, which include the development of asymmetric selective polymerization, helix selective polymerization,and chiral materials utilizing helical polymers, and span from basic research
all the way through to practical applications, are highly regarded for its
immense contributions to society.

“Biological Production, Ecology” field
Achievement : Sustainable soil management for global foodsecurity and mitigation of climate changeProf. Rattan Lal (United States of America)
Born: September 5, 1944 (Age: 74)
Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science
Director, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center
The Ohio State University
Summary
Soil is important not only for food production but also for a wide
range of functions in environmental conservation, such as carbon sequestration, environmental cleanup, material circulation and preservationof biodiversity. Prof. Rattan Lal demonstrated in Africa’s sub-Saharanregion that the “no-tillage cultivation method” can ensure stable biological production while preventing soil erosion, and has undertaken great
efforts to spread this technique and promote the idea that a healthy soil isthe basis of sustainable agriculture and good environment.
While the soil is usually plowed in agriculture, the no-tillage cultivation method which does away with plowing was adapted and tested
by Prof. Lal who had noticed the outflow mechanism of soil organic
matter. Based on this finding, Prof. Lal began studying the relationshipbetween soil and global environmental issues.
As a result of the analysis of the global carbon cycle, he found out that withappropriate management, soil not only isolates carbon and reduces CO2 in theatmosphere but also becomes fertile, thereby improving food production.
And as a result of his continuous appeal to the international communityof the importance of appropriate soil management, Prof. Lal’s ideas were
formulated into the policy of international effort for soil preservation
called the “4 per 1000 Initiative”, and is closely tied to the promotion of
the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The degradation of soil by humankind
Soil is made over a very long time span. For example, immediately aftera landslide, the ground is covered with rocks. The rocks then weather andgradually become finer, turning into sand and eventually to clay. Meanwhile,as the growth of plants gradually increase, microorganisms decompose thedead plants over a long period of time. This results in the formation of organic
matter called “humus”. It takes hundreds of years for clay, microorganisms
and humus to form aggregates and become stable soil.
Ever since mankind began agriculture, soil has been exposed tohuman-induced changes. The plowing of soil increases the supply ofoxygen and fuels the activities of microorganisms, thereby driving
the decomposition of organic matter. The decomposed organic matterthen becomes the nutrients that help agricultural crops grow. In otherwords, agriculture is originally a process of extracting organic matteraccumulated in the soil over a very long span and turning it into crops.
As mankind gained experience in agriculture, productivity has increased
through the use of fertilizers, but this also meant the faster depletion oforganic matter in soil.
In fact, when averaged out, the soil thickness for the whole earth is
only about 30 to 40 cm. Despite there being very little soil, it produces
food for the world’s population that now exceeds 7 billion people. If wekeep using the organic matter in soil at the current pace, we will be indanger of not being able to produce enough food for the growing world
population. Furthermore, the organic matter in the soil will eventually
become CO2 and escape into the atmosphere.
Between 1750 (immediately prior to the industrial revolution) and 2017,
the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere (in carbon equivalent) was
235±95 gigatons (1 billion tons) due to human-induced changes to land such as
deforestation. This is almost half the amount that was emitted by the burningof fossil fuel and cement production, which stands at 430±20 gigatons.*
As described, soil has a major impact on food production and global
environment. From this perspective, Prof. Lal addressed these issues byfocusing on the importance of soil physical management and has madetwo major achievements.

No-tillage agriculture will save our soil
Prof. Lal’s first achievement is the adaptation of the “no-tillage
cultivation method” that increases crop production while preserving
the stable state of soil organic matter in Africa’s sub-Saharan region
suffering from severe soil erosion, and the subsequent spreading of
the technique throughout the tropics and elsewhere.
Prof. Lal, who was born in India, graduated from the Punjab
Agricultural University, then earned a master’s degree from theIndian Agricultural Research Institute. He then moved to the UnitedStates and earned a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in 1968. In
1970, he began researching at the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria and worked on addressing the issue ofsoil erosion and physical degradation.
The sub-Saharan region at the time was suffering from soil deterioration due to the use of heavy machinery for deforestation and cultivation.
The problem was made worse by the prevalence of erosion due to rain
and wind, making it difficult for the crops to grow sufficiently.
Prof. Lal, who specializes in soil physics, conducted a detailed investigation of the size distribution and kinetic energy of raindrops and clarified the conditions under which soil erosion occurs. He also quantified
the effect of mulch (the covering of soil surface) for the prevention of soil
erosion. Plowing not only makes soil erosion more likely to happen but
also makes it easier for aggregates in the soil to break due to temperaturerise on soil surface and raindrops. By elucidating this mechanism, hediscovered how soil organic matter is lost. Based on these analyses, Prof.
Lal promoted the “no-tillage cultivation method” as a way of preventing
soil erosion and stabilizing biological production. He gradually increased
the scale of his cultivation experiments, repeating and refining it until
the method could yield production increase that would be adequate forfarmers to consider adoption.
The method he devised was:
1) Leave the surface soil protected with roots and stumps whencutting forests,
2) Plant and grow cover crops (such as plants of Leguminosae
family) immediately after cutting,3) Plant the seeds of target crops where the cover crops have diedwithout plowing.
The dead cover crops will not only prevent soil erosion but also serve
as mulch and compost for the target crops while conserving water andmoderating soil temperature.
Following this discovery, Prof. Lal, who devised the method toprevent soil erosion and improve the growth of crops by the counterintuitive concept of “no-tillage”, worked in Asia including his homecountry India as well as Brazil and Australia to spread the no-tillage
cultivation method. Prof. Lal has also taught the “non-tillage cultivation method” to researchers worldwide who came to IITA, leading
to its adoption throughout the tropics and globally. Translation of hisacademic findings in soil physics into a sustainable method of farmingwith real-life applications is Prof. Lal’s biggest achievement.

Isolating carbon into the soil
In 1987, Prof. Lal became a professor at the Ohio State University.
With nearly 20 years of experience accumulated while researching at
IITA, Prof. Lal conducted research on the relationship between soil andglobal environmental issues. He revealed that the proper managementof soil is crucial if we are to solve the major issues of food production
and conservation of the global environment. In addition, he continued topromote the proper management of soil so that the real-life applicationof his academic findings would become established in society. His
efforts eventually led to the realization of international efforts. This isProf. Lal’s second achievement.
When viewed from a different perspective, it can be said that organic
matter contained in the soil serves to isolate carbon. Whereas there
are 1,550 gigatons of carbon that exists as soil organic matter and 950
gigatons as soil minerals, coming to a total of 2,500 gigatons. This is
more than three times the carbon contained in the atmosphere (800
gigatons) and 4.5 times the carbon that exists as plants (560 gigatons).

Photosynthesis

Respiration

Atmosphere

Biosphere
hroposphereAnt

p o sphe

Precipitation

thr oTranspirationt h r o p o s p h er eAnpospher
e
thro
An

An

Deposition

Weathering

Pedosphere

SDGs

re

Hydrosphere

LithosphereE ﬀ usio n

A cc u m u l atio n

The relationship between the pedosphere and the ecosphere ofEarth seen in relation to the SDGs. The pedosphere at the center isrelated with everything else, and plays a major role in the achievement of SDGs. Diagram based on Fig.15-2 of “Soil and Sustainable
Development Goals” (Catena soil sciences publications) edited by
R. Lal et al.(2018).

If we can confine more carbon into soil which we now understandit to be a huge “warehouse”, we can suppress the rising levels of CO₂
in the atmosphere and perhaps help to alleviate global warming. In
addition, this can also stop the decline of soil organic matter causedby agriculture and improve food production, as well as bring about
secondary effects such as the reduction of water pollution and the conservation of biodiversity. While many methods of carbon sequestration
have problems such as technical difficulty, cost, adverse effects on theenvironment and so on, soil management is a relatively simple, safe
and inexpensive method that is more superior.
With this goal, Prof. Lal analyzed the circulation of earth’s carbon
from data, examined the relationship between soil, the environment
and agricultural production in detail, and studied how soil should bemanaged in order to increase the isolation of carbon. And in 2004, hepublished the results in “Science” magazine. His paper proposed not
only the no-tillage cultivation method for areas with eroded soil but also
various other types of soil management methods, and estimated thatevery year 0.4 to 1.2 gigatons of carbon could be isolated in croplandsoils throughout the world.
Following the publication of his paper, Prof. Lal has served as a committee member at relevant academic conferences, government agencies
and international organizations, and has even made presentations toappeal for the implementation of the countermeasures he put forth. His
efforts eventually bore fruit at the 21st Conference of the Parties to theUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held inParis in 2015, when the initiative to “increase soil carbon by 4/1000 peryear” (4 per 1000 initiative) was launched.
It is calculated that if this goal is achieved, the increase in carbon
due to the burning of fossil fuels could be offset, thereby drasticallyreducing the annual increment of atmospheric CO2. His ideas have also
been reflected in the AAA Initiative (the initiative for the Adaptationof African Agriculture) adopted at the COP22 held in Marrakesh
in 2016. Furthermore, Prof. Lal’s ideas are expected to contributetowards the achieving of 4 of the 17 of sustainable development goals(SDGs) formulated by the United Nations in 2015, namely Goal 1 “NoPoverty”, Goal 2 “Zero Hunger”, Goal 13 “Climate Action”, and Goal
15 “Life On Land”and achieving land degradation neutrality.
Prof. Lal, who initially began his research to stop soil erosion in the
sub-Saharan region, expanded his activities in order to help solve global
food and environmental issues, and has consistently conveyed theimportance of soil to the international community. With his unstoppable
enthusiasm and spirit of inquiry, today, Prof. Lal is also conducting
research on the relationship between urbanization and soil.
*According to the Global Carbon Budget (2018) by Le Quere et al.
published in Earth System Science Data 10:2141-2194

Fields Eligible for the 2020 Japan Prize

Nomination and Selection Process■

Every November, the Field Selection Committee of The Japan Prize Foundation designates and announces two fields inwhich the Japan Prize will be awarded two years hence. At the same time, the Foundation calls for over 15,000 nominators,
strictly comprised of prominent scientists and researchers from around the world invited by the Foundation, to nominate thecandidates through the web by JPNS (Japan Prize Nomination System). The deadline for nominations is the end of Februaryof 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 froma wider perspective, including contributions to the progress of science and technology, and significant advancement
towards the cause of world peace and prosperity, and finally the selected candidates are recommended 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 two years from the time that the fields are decided. Every January, thewinners of that year’s Japan Prize are announced. The Presentation Ceremony is held in April in Tokyo.

July - October, 2017

Considerthe fields
eligiblefor the 2019Japan Prize

November
Determinethe fields eligible
for the 2019Japan Prize
Materials andProduction

End February, 2018

NovemberJanuary, 2019

April

Selection Committee

Invite thenominations

Closing of
thenominations

Selection Subcommittee
for Materials andProduction

Board ofDirectors

Announce
the Laureatesof the 2019Japan Prize

The 2019
Japan Prize
Presentation
Ceremony

Selection Subcommittee
for Biological Production,
Ecology

Biological Production,
EcologyMembers of the 2019 Japan Prize Selection Committee
MemberYoshinori Fujiyoshi

Guest Professor
Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute, Nagoya University

ChairmanVice Chairman

Makoto Asashima

Yoshinao Mishima

Research Professor
Academic Advisor, Teikyo University
Academic Advisor, Japan Society
for the Promotion of Science
Professor Emeritus
The University of Tokyo

Former President
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Professor Emeritus
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Yoshihiro Hayashi

President/Director General
National Museum of Nature and Science

Yoshio Karita

Former Grand Master of the Ceremonies
Imperial Household Agency

Kazunori Kataoka

Professor Emeritus, Project Professor, The University of Tokyo
Director General of Innovation Center of NanoMedicine

Yoichiro Matsumoto

President
Tokyo University of Science

Masayuki Matsushita

Director
The Japan Prize Foundation

Shojiro Nishio

President
Osaka University

Tadatsugu Taniguchi

Professor Emeritus, Advisor to the Office of President
The University of Tokyo

Area ofPhysics, Chemistry,
Informatics, Engineering

Electronics, Information and Communication

Background and rationale:

The successive birth of various technologies in fields of electronics, information and communication has greatly contributed to human society. Its
progress has been remarkably fast, and in recent years, we are seeing innovative developments in basic technologies, such as artificial intelligence, bigdata, IoT, robotics, semiconductor devices, optical/wireless network and information security. As a result, for example, the accumulation of enormous
amount of information and its sophisticated analysis, made possible by the convergence of the physical and cyber space, are beginning to revolutionize
the industrial structure and human lifestyle.
It is highly anticipated that such technological advancements will not only facilitate economic development but also resolve societal issues, thereby
contributing to the realization of a safe, secure and sustainable society that enables innovative lifestyles.

Achievement eligible:

The 2020 Japan Prize in the field of “Electronics, Information and Communication” is awarded to an individual(s) who has achieved scientificand technological breakthroughs, such as the development of essential technologies or systems that have contributed significantly to the creationof new industries, innovations in production technology, the realization of a safe and secure society, and improvements in amenity of life, as wellas advances in basic science and technology that are highly likely to promote the further development of society.
Area of
Life Science, Agricultureand Medicine

Life Science

Kazuyuki Kuroda

Professor
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Kazunori Kataoka

Toru Okabe

Professor, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Professor, Center for Energy & Environmental Science
Shinshu University

Professor Emeritus
Project Professor
The University of Tokyo
Director General of Innovation
Center of NanoMedicine

Professor
Institute of Industrial Science
The University of Tokyo

Chief Scientist
Advanced Device Laboratory, RIKEN

Professor
School of Life Science and Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Yasuhiro Koike

Kyoko Nozaki

Koji Ishibashi

Atsushi Maruyama

Professor
Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University

Professor
School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Toshihiko Koseki

Tamio Oguchi

Professor
School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

The 2020 Japan Prize in the field of “Life Science” is awarded to individual(s) who has made significant contributions to society by achieving scientificand technological breakthroughs, such as the discovery of new life phenomena, proposal of paradigm shifts, and technological innovations that deepen theunderstanding of biological functions.

Fields Selection Committee for the 2020 Japan Prize
Yozo Fujino
ChairmanVice Chairman

Michiharu Nakamura

Kazuhito Hashimoto Kohei Miyazono

Vice Chairman

Counselor to the President
Japan Science andTechnology Agency
Director
The Japan Prize Foundation

President
National Institute forMaterials Science

Professor
Department of Molecular Pathology
Graduate School of Medicine
The University of Tokyo

Kazuyuki Inubushi
Futoshi Nakamura

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Yoshihiro Hayashi

Hiromichi Nagasawa

President/Director General
National Museum of Natureand Science

Professor Emeritus
The University of Tokyo

Professor
Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

Taikan Oki

Professor, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S)The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS)The University of Tokyo

Masakazu Shimada

Professor
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Tatsuya Sugawara

Professor
Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University

Katsumi Tsukamoto

Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo
Specially Appointed Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Tetsukazu Yahara

Professor
Department of Biology, Kyushu University

Keitaro Yamanouchi

Associate Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The University of Tokyo( alphabetical order, titles as of January, 2019)

President
National Agriculture and Food Research
Organization

Ken Furuya

Eiichi Nakamura

Mariko Hasegawa

Yuichi Sugiyama

Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
Soka University
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

Masaru Kitsuregawa

Endowed Professor
Office of the President and Department of Chemistry
The University of Tokyo

Head, Sugiyama Laboratory
RIKEN Baton Zone Program

Mariko Takahashi

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

Science Coordinator
The Asahi Shimbun

Masayuki Yamamoto

Director General
National Institute for Basic Biology

Selection Subcommittee for the “Biological Production, Ecology” field

Professor
Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University

Kazuo Kyuma

Distinguished Professor
Institute of Advanced Sciences
Yokohama National University

President
SOKENDAI(The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)

Professor
The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research
Osaka University

Member“Biological Production, Ecology” field

Achievement eligible:

Kazue Kurihara

Kazunari Domen

This year’s Japan Prize will be awarded to Prof. Yoshio Okamoto who established the concept of asymmetricpolymerization for the creation of helical polymers, and developed the results into a practical separation method
for optically active drugs, and to Prof. Rattan Lal who proposed and practiced the sustainable soil management methodthat contributes to both the stability of food security and environment conservation for climate change mitigation

In recent years, major advances in life science driven by innovative analysis technology have led to the elucidation of many complex yet subtle
mechanisms of life.
Today, analysis technologies such as DNA sequencing technology capable of rapidly determining the entire genome information and its gene expression
state, genome editing technology that can modify genetic information in a targeted manner, and imaging technology capable of visualizing various layersof anatomy from intracellular organelle to complex brain tissues, have especially become well established and widely accessible, thereby opening up awhole new dimension in the realm of life science.
It is anticipated that progress in the understanding of the foundation of life phenomena while upholding bioethics will contribute toward the welfare of
mankind by creating new medical care and bringing about wisdom for sustainable human development.

MemberProfessor
New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University

Jan. 2019

Background and rationale:

MemberPrincipal Investigator
WPI Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics
National Institute for Materials Science

No. 612019 Japan Prize Laureates Announced“Materials and Production” field

Selection Subcommittee for the “Materials and Production” field
Katsuhiko Ariga

ARK Mori Building, East Wing 35th Floor, 1-12-32
Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6035, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5545-0551 Fax: +81-3-5545-0554
www.japanprize.jp
Twitter @JapanPrizeAward Instagram @JapanPrize(alphabetical order, titles as of November, 2018)

Schedule (2020-2022)

The fields eligible for the Japan Prize (2020 to 2022) have been decided for the two research areas, respectively.
These fields rotate every year in a three year cycle.
Every year the Fields Selection Committee announces the eligible field for the next three years.
Area of Physics, Chemistry and Engineering

Area of Life Science, Agriculture and Medicine

Year

Eligible Fields

Year

2020
2021
2022

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

2020
2021
2022

Eligible Fields
Life Science
Medical Science, Medicinal Science
Biological Production, Ecology/ EnvironmentProf. Yoshio Okamoto

Prof. Rattan Lal

Distinguished Invited University Professor, Nagoya University
Chair Professor, Harbin Engineering University

Distinguished University Professor / Director,
Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, The Ohio State University

Japan

United States of America

The Japan Prize Foundation has decided to award the 2019 (35th) Japan Prize to Prof. Yoshio Okamoto of Japan and Prof. Rattan Lal of the United States of America.
In the prize field of “Materials and Production” , Prof. Yoshio Okamoto is being honored for his “leading contributions to precision synthesis of helical polymers anddevelopment of practical chiral materials for separating chiral drugs” .
Prof. Okamoto has contributed enormously to the development of basic science and industry by establishing the groundbreaking concept of asymmetric polymerization forthe creation of helical polymers and developed the results into a practical separation method for optically active drugs.
His research has made it possible to efficiently separate the numerous enantiomers which had been deemed very difficult in the past, achieved its practical application andeven led to the development of the most used chiral filler in the world. In order to produce drugs with high efficacy and no side effects, it is essential to obtain a single
enantiomer (chiral drug). By using the chiral filler material developed by Prof. Okamoto, it is possible to separate chiral drugs by the tons. The chiral separation businessbased on this technology is now benefiting researchers from all over the world. In this way, the technology that originated from Prof. Okamoto’s basic research, which
was then adapted for practical application through applied research, has since contributed enormously to the creation of pharmaceuticals and other chiral substances.
In the prize field of “Biological Production, Ecology” , Prof. Rattan Lal is being honored for the establishment of “sustainable soil management for global food security
and mitigation of climate change” .
Prof. Lal has been successful in establishing technological options adapted to various ecosystems through his deep academic exploration to prevent soil degradation
caused by inappropriate biological production, as well as to propose the best soil management that reduces the effects on climate change and improves the environmental
quality to cope with the issue of feeding the earth’s population, which is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
Prof. Lal proposed the no-tillage cultivation method that ensures stable biological production and prevents soil erosion and practiced the concept widely around the world.
Furthermore, the technique he proposed to sequestrate atmospheric CO2 into the soil using crops can also provide numerous secondary effects, such as enhanced foodsecurity, reduced water pollution and biodiversity conservation at a low cost.
In this manner, Prof. Lal has not only pursued the principle of natural science and the adoptions of its technological applications in society, but has also demonstrated tosociety the importance of soil, which sustains biological production and affects the global environment. While enlightening the general public on this issue, he has alsobrought together international efforts to promote soil conservation with policy makers.
As described, the achievements of Prof. Yoshio Okamoto and Prof. Rattan Lal are deemed most eminently deserving of the Japan Prize, which honors contributions to
the advancement of science and technology that further the cause of peace and prosperity for all mankind.
The award presentation ceremony to honor the laureates will be held on the 8th of April this year at the National Theatre in Tokyo.

The Japan Prize came into being in 1982 after the late Mr. Konosuke
Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now known as
Panasonic Corporation), made a personal donation in response to the thengovernment’s wish to create a prestigious international prize for scientists fromaround the world as a token of gratitude to the international community. Withcabinet endorsement, the prize was first awarded in 1985. The Japan Prize honors

those whose original and outstanding achievements are not only scientificallysignificant, but have also served to promote peace and prosperity for all
mankind. Each year, the foundation designates two fields for award
presentation in consideration of developments in science and technology. EachJapan Prize laureate receives a certificate of merit and a prize medal. A cash
prize of 50 million yen is also presented to each prize category.

Fields Eligible for the 2020 Japan Prize

Nomination and Selection Process■

Every November, the Field Selection Committee of The Japan Prize Foundation designates and announces two fields inwhich the Japan Prize will be awarded two years hence. At the same time, the Foundation calls for over 15,000 nominators,
strictly comprised of prominent scientists and researchers from around the world invited by the Foundation, to nominate thecandidates through the web by JPNS (Japan Prize Nomination System). The deadline for nominations is the end of Februaryof 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 froma wider perspective, including contributions to the progress of science and technology, and significant advancement
towards the cause of world peace and prosperity, and finally the selected candidates are recommended 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 two years from the time that the fields are decided. Every January, thewinners of that year’s Japan Prize are announced. The Presentation Ceremony is held in April in Tokyo.

July - October, 2017

Considerthe fields
eligiblefor the 2019Japan Prize

November
Determinethe fields eligible
for the 2019Japan Prize
Materials andProduction

End February, 2018

NovemberJanuary, 2019

April

Selection Committee

Invite thenominations

Closing of
thenominations

Selection Subcommittee
for Materials andProduction

Board ofDirectors

Announce
the Laureatesof the 2019Japan Prize

The 2019
Japan Prize
Presentation
Ceremony

Selection Subcommittee
for Biological Production,
Ecology

Biological Production,
EcologyMembers of the 2019 Japan Prize Selection Committee
MemberYoshinori Fujiyoshi

Guest Professor
Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute, Nagoya University

ChairmanVice Chairman

Makoto Asashima

Yoshinao Mishima

Research Professor
Academic Advisor, Teikyo University
Academic Advisor, Japan Society
for the Promotion of Science
Professor Emeritus
The University of Tokyo

Former President
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Professor Emeritus
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Yoshihiro Hayashi

President/Director General
National Museum of Nature and Science

Yoshio Karita

Former Grand Master of the Ceremonies
Imperial Household Agency

Kazunori Kataoka

Professor Emeritus, Project Professor, The University of Tokyo
Director General of Innovation Center of NanoMedicine

Yoichiro Matsumoto

President
Tokyo University of Science

Masayuki Matsushita

Director
The Japan Prize Foundation

Shojiro Nishio

President
Osaka University

Tadatsugu Taniguchi

Professor Emeritus, Advisor to the Office of President
The University of Tokyo

Area ofPhysics, Chemistry,
Informatics, Engineering

Electronics, Information and Communication

Background and rationale:

The successive birth of various technologies in fields of electronics, information and communication has greatly contributed to human society. Its
progress has been remarkably fast, and in recent years, we are seeing innovative developments in basic technologies, such as artificial intelligence, bigdata, IoT, robotics, semiconductor devices, optical/wireless network and information security. As a result, for example, the accumulation of enormous
amount of information and its sophisticated analysis, made possible by the convergence of the physical and cyber space, are beginning to revolutionize
the industrial structure and human lifestyle.
It is highly anticipated that such technological advancements will not only facilitate economic development but also resolve societal issues, thereby
contributing to the realization of a safe, secure and sustainable society that enables innovative lifestyles.

Achievement eligible:

The 2020 Japan Prize in the field of “Electronics, Information and Communication” is awarded to an individual(s) who has achieved scientificand technological breakthroughs, such as the development of essential technologies or systems that have contributed significantly to the creationof new industries, innovations in production technology, the realization of a safe and secure society, and improvements in amenity of life, as wellas advances in basic science and technology that are highly likely to promote the further development of society.
Area of
Life Science, Agricultureand Medicine

Life Science

Kazuyuki Kuroda

Professor
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Kazunori Kataoka

Toru Okabe

Professor, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Professor, Center for Energy & Environmental Science
Shinshu University

Professor Emeritus
Project Professor
The University of Tokyo
Director General of Innovation
Center of NanoMedicine

Professor
Institute of Industrial Science
The University of Tokyo

Chief Scientist
Advanced Device Laboratory, RIKEN

Professor
School of Life Science and Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Yasuhiro Koike

Kyoko Nozaki

Koji Ishibashi

Atsushi Maruyama

Professor
Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University

Professor
School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Toshihiko Koseki

Tamio Oguchi

Professor
School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

The 2020 Japan Prize in the field of “Life Science” is awarded to individual(s) who has made significant contributions to society by achieving scientificand technological breakthroughs, such as the discovery of new life phenomena, proposal of paradigm shifts, and technological innovations that deepen theunderstanding of biological functions.

Fields Selection Committee for the 2020 Japan Prize
Yozo Fujino
ChairmanVice Chairman

Michiharu Nakamura

Kazuhito Hashimoto Kohei Miyazono

Vice Chairman

Counselor to the President
Japan Science andTechnology Agency
Director
The Japan Prize Foundation

President
National Institute forMaterials Science

Professor
Department of Molecular Pathology
Graduate School of Medicine
The University of Tokyo

Kazuyuki Inubushi
Futoshi Nakamura

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Yoshihiro Hayashi

Hiromichi Nagasawa

President/Director General
National Museum of Natureand Science

Professor Emeritus
The University of Tokyo

Professor
Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

Taikan Oki

Professor, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S)The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS)The University of Tokyo

Masakazu Shimada

Professor
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Tatsuya Sugawara

Professor
Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University

Katsumi Tsukamoto

Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo
Specially Appointed Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Tetsukazu Yahara

Professor
Department of Biology, Kyushu University

Keitaro Yamanouchi

Associate Professor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
The University of Tokyo( alphabetical order, titles as of January, 2019)

President
National Agriculture and Food Research
Organization

Ken Furuya

Eiichi Nakamura

Mariko Hasegawa

Yuichi Sugiyama

Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
Soka University
Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo

Masaru Kitsuregawa

Endowed Professor
Office of the President and Department of Chemistry
The University of Tokyo

Head, Sugiyama Laboratory
RIKEN Baton Zone Program

Mariko Takahashi

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

Science Coordinator
The Asahi Shimbun

Masayuki Yamamoto

Director General
National Institute for Basic Biology

Selection Subcommittee for the “Biological Production, Ecology” field

Professor
Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University

Kazuo Kyuma

Distinguished Professor
Institute of Advanced Sciences
Yokohama National University

President
SOKENDAI(The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)

Professor
The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research
Osaka University

Member“Biological Production, Ecology” field

Achievement eligible:

Kazue Kurihara

Kazunari Domen

This year’s Japan Prize will be awarded to Prof. Yoshio Okamoto who established the concept of asymmetricpolymerization for the creation of helical polymers, and developed the results into a practical separation method
for optically active drugs, and to Prof. Rattan Lal who proposed and practiced the sustainable soil management methodthat contributes to both the stability of food security and environment conservation for climate change mitigation

In recent years, major advances in life science driven by innovative analysis technology have led to the elucidation of many complex yet subtle
mechanisms of life.
Today, analysis technologies such as DNA sequencing technology capable of rapidly determining the entire genome information and its gene expression
state, genome editing technology that can modify genetic information in a targeted manner, and imaging technology capable of visualizing various layersof anatomy from intracellular organelle to complex brain tissues, have especially become well established and widely accessible, thereby opening up awhole new dimension in the realm of life science.
It is anticipated that progress in the understanding of the foundation of life phenomena while upholding bioethics will contribute toward the welfare of
mankind by creating new medical care and bringing about wisdom for sustainable human development.

MemberProfessor
New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University

Jan. 2019

Background and rationale:

MemberPrincipal Investigator
WPI Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics
National Institute for Materials Science

No. 612019 Japan Prize Laureates Announced“Materials and Production” field

Selection Subcommittee for the “Materials and Production” field
Katsuhiko Ariga

ARK Mori Building, East Wing 35th Floor, 1-12-32
Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6035, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5545-0551 Fax: +81-3-5545-0554
www.japanprize.jp
Twitter @JapanPrizeAward Instagram @JapanPrize(alphabetical order, titles as of November, 2018)

Schedule (2020-2022)

The fields eligible for the Japan Prize (2020 to 2022) have been decided for the two research areas, respectively.
These fields rotate every year in a three year cycle.
Every year the Fields Selection Committee announces the eligible field for the next three years.
Area of Physics, Chemistry and Engineering

Area of Life Science, Agriculture and Medicine

Year

Eligible Fields

Year

2020
2021
2022

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

2020
2021
2022

Eligible Fields
Life Science
Medical Science, Medicinal Science
Biological Production, Ecology/ EnvironmentProf. Yoshio Okamoto

Prof. Rattan Lal

Distinguished Invited University Professor, Nagoya University
Chair Professor, Harbin Engineering University

Distinguished University Professor / Director,
Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, The Ohio State University

Japan

United States of America

The Japan Prize Foundation has decided to award the 2019 (35th) Japan Prize to Prof. Yoshio Okamoto of Japan and Prof. Rattan Lal of the United States of America.
In the prize field of “Materials and Production” , Prof. Yoshio Okamoto is being honored for his “leading contributions to precision synthesis of helical polymers anddevelopment of practical chiral materials for separating chiral drugs” .
Prof. Okamoto has contributed enormously to the development of basic science and industry by establishing the groundbreaking concept of asymmetric polymerization forthe creation of helical polymers and developed the results into a practical separation method for optically active drugs.
His research has made it possible to efficiently separate the numerous enantiomers which had been deemed very difficult in the past, achieved its practical application andeven led to the development of the most used chiral filler in the world. In order to produce drugs with high efficacy and no side effects, it is essential to obtain a single
enantiomer (chiral drug). By using the chiral filler material developed by Prof. Okamoto, it is possible to separate chiral drugs by the tons. The chiral separation businessbased on this technology is now benefiting researchers from all over the world. In this way, the technology that originated from Prof. Okamoto’s basic research, which
was then adapted for practical application through applied research, has since contributed enormously to the creation of pharmaceuticals and other chiral substances.
In the prize field of “Biological Production, Ecology” , Prof. Rattan Lal is being honored for the establishment of “sustainable soil management for global food security
and mitigation of climate change” .
Prof. Lal has been successful in establishing technological options adapted to various ecosystems through his deep academic exploration to prevent soil degradation
caused by inappropriate biological production, as well as to propose the best soil management that reduces the effects on climate change and improves the environmental
quality to cope with the issue of feeding the earth’s population, which is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
Prof. Lal proposed the no-tillage cultivation method that ensures stable biological production and prevents soil erosion and practiced the concept widely around the world.
Furthermore, the technique he proposed to sequestrate atmospheric CO2 into the soil using crops can also provide numerous secondary effects, such as enhanced foodsecurity, reduced water pollution and biodiversity conservation at a low cost.
In this manner, Prof. Lal has not only pursued the principle of natural science and the adoptions of its technological applications in society, but has also demonstrated tosociety the importance of soil, which sustains biological production and affects the global environment. While enlightening the general public on this issue, he has alsobrought together international efforts to promote soil conservation with policy makers.
As described, the achievements of Prof. Yoshio Okamoto and Prof. Rattan Lal are deemed most eminently deserving of the Japan Prize, which honors contributions to
the advancement of science and technology that further the cause of peace and prosperity for all mankind.
The award presentation ceremony to honor the laureates will be held on the 8th of April this year at the National Theatre in Tokyo.

The Japan Prize came into being in 1982 after the late Mr. Konosuke
Matsushita, the founder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now known as
Panasonic Corporation), made a personal donation in response to the thengovernment’s wish to create a prestigious international prize for scientists fromaround the world as a token of gratitude to the international community. Withcabinet endorsement, the prize was first awarded in 1985. The Japan Prize honors

those whose original and outstanding achievements are not only scientificallysignificant, but have also served to promote peace and prosperity for all
mankind. Each year, the foundation designates two fields for award
presentation in consideration of developments in science and technology. EachJapan Prize laureate receives a certificate of merit and a prize medal. A cash
prize of 50 million yen is also presented to each prize category.