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No. 56

May 2016

www.japanprize.jp

2016 (32nd) Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony
In the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress
Two researchers from Japan and the U.S. graciously accept the prize

The Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 20th at the Tokyo International Forum in the presence of
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. The Japan Prize is an international award presented to individuals whose original andoutstanding achievements in science and technology have served to promote peace and prosperity for mankind.
The 2016 (32nd) Japan Prize was awarded in two fields, namely, "Materials and Production" and "Biological Production and
Biological Environment." Dr. Hideo Hosono of Japan was recognized for pioneering new realms in materials science andcontributing to its application in technology such as LCD displays.
Meanwhile, Dr. Steven D. Tanksley of the U.S. was recognized for contributing to the stable production of food crops by his
pioneering work on molecular genetic analysis. A certificate of merit and a prize medal were presented to both laureates.
Each year, the Japan Prize Foundation receives nominations from prominent scientists and researchers worldwide, from which
candidates are chosen through a rigorous year-long selection process. Of the fields eligible for the prize in 2016, the "Materials
and Production" field received 204 nominations, and the "Biological Production and Biological Environment" field received 88
nominations, from which the two laureates were selected.

The Japan Prize came into being after the late Mr. Konosuke Matsushita, thefounder of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now known as Panasonic
Corporation), responded in 1982 with a personal donation to the thengovernment’s wish for creating a prestigious international prize for scientists
around the world as a token of gratitude for the international society. With aCabinet endorsement, the Prize was first awarded in 1985.
While the prize encompasses all categories of science and technology, two fieldsof study are designated for the prize each year in consideration of developments inscience and technology. Each Japan Prize laureate receives a certificate of meritand a prize medal. A cash prize of 50 million yen is also awarded to each prize field.

Materials and Production

Creation of unconventional inorganic materials with novel
electronic functions based on nano-structure engineering

Dr. Hideo Hosono
Born: September 7, 1953
Professor, Laboratory for Materials and Structures, Institute of Innovative Research,
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Director, Materials Research Center of Element Strategy
Message from the laureate

I am extremely honored today to be awarded the Japan

imagination, and I believe that the exploration has only justPrize in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor andbegun. When a substance meets societal needs, it can be

the Empress, distinguished guests, and ladies andcalled a material. Luckily, my transparent glass

gentlemen.

semiconductor was adopted to power a new generation of

In the world around us, there exist countless substances

displays. But we are only at the crucial beginning phase forbut the total number of elements that make up thoseelectrides and iron-based superconducting substances tosubstances is merely 100 or so, about the same as themake the same leap forward and become materials. Having

number of man's worldly desires. My motivation inreceived this wonderful encouragement in the form of the

pursuing materials research began with the surprising

Japan Prize, I would like to continue to strive ahead andexperiment, I made as a child, of the electrolysis of water,

dedicate myself to research.

in which a fire extinguishing substance was turned into

Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude tohydrogen, which is flammable, and oxygen gas which also

the Japan Prize Selection Committee for recognizing myfacilitates burning.

research, to the colleagues with whom I collaborated, andThe goal of my research is to seek out practicalto the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Japan

realization of useful functions in ordinarily abundant

Science and Technology Agency for their extensive

elements, just as nylon was created from water, air andsupport.

coal. Substances have extraordinary potential beyond ourThank you.

Biological Production and Biological Environment

Contribution to modern crop breeding throughresearch on development of molecular genetic analysis

Dr. Steven D. Tanksley
Born: April 7, 1954
Professor Emeritus, Cornell University

Message from the laureate

Dr. Steven Tanksley has made such importantachievements as the generation of molecular linkage mapsof crops using molecular technology, development ofinnovative techniques for identifying productivity related
genes like those for fruit sizes, as well as the application ofgenetic markers to crop improvement.
From the 1980s to the 90s, Dr. Tanksley opened newhorizons in the development of chromosome maps forcrops by applying molecular biology techniques to tomato
and rice plants. He then developed a method to associatechromosome region information (DNA markers) with
Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), even though analysis of
QTL, such as seed numbers, coldresistance and flowering
time, was too complex to be solved due to the intricate
effects of multiple genes and environmental factors.
Furthermore, Dr. Tanksley demonstrated through theisolation of QTL that a particular mutation that occurs
during the domestication process of a wild species oftomato contributes to its fruit size. He also pointed out theimportance of spontaneous mutation amongst wild species
for the future crop development, and devised a method forevaluating the genes of wild germplasm resources. These
highly original achievements by Dr. Tanksley have since
contributed to wideranging and rapid progress in related
research areas, such as in the development of molecular
linkage maps for crops and livestock, the identification ofagriculturally useful QTL, and the sequence determinationof whole genomes.
After Dr. Tanksley’ s research achievements, crossbreeding
was transformed from realm of experience, intuition andluck to predictive science. Triggered by his research, a
breakthrough technology known as Marker Assisted
Selection (MAS) was developed, enabling systematic
improvement of crops based on DNA markers derived
from genome information. This technique that combines
genetic information and breeding offers seminal
advantages such as significant shortening of the breeding
period and reliability of superior offspring selection. It has
drawn researchers from around the globe, and is being
applied for a wide variety of crops. Today, MAS has
become an indispensable method of crop development andlivestock breeding, and is therefore considered to be an
outstanding contribution to the agricultural industry.
Dr. Tanksley’ s research established the theoretical bases
for understanding the genetic information of crops which
has been widely adopted in the field of modern crop
breeding, thereby contributing profoundly to the stableproduction of food crops in the world. It is for theseoutstanding achievements that Dr. Steven Tanksley isdeemed most eminently deserving of the 2016 Japan Prizegiven to honor contributions in the fields of “Biological
Production and Biological Environment.”

Presentation Ceremony

The 2016 (32nd) Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony was held at the Tokyo International Forum in the presence of Their Majesties theEmperor and Empress. The magnificent occasion was celebrated by approximately 1,000 attendees, including distinguished guests such as
Mr. Tadamori Oshima, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Masaaki Yamazaki, President of the House of Councillors, Mr. Itsuro Terada,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ms. Aiko Shimajiri, Minister of State for Special Missions, as well as prominent academic and businessfigures. At the opening of the ceremony, President Yoshio Yazaki of the Japan Prize Foundation expressed his sympathies to those affected by theearthquake that struck the Kyushu region in April 2016.
Following the announcement of the selection results by Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama, Chairman of the Selection Committee, Dr. Hideo
Hosono and Dr. Steven D. Tanksley watched over by family and friends, were presented with a certificate of merit and a prize medal onstage by Chairman Hiroyuki Yoshikawa of the Japan Prize Foundation. The laureates received warm applause from the audience as theyheld up the prize medals and expressed their joy in their acceptance speeches. Representing the honorable guests, congratulatory address
was given by H. E. Mr. Tadamori Oshima.
The ceremony was followed by a commemorative concert, in which Tokyo Geidai Symphony Orchestra performed “Spring” from Vivaldi's “theFour Seasons” as requested by Dr. Tanksley, and “Mars” and “Jupiter” from Holst’s “the Planets” as requested by Dr. Hosono.

Dr. & Mrs. Hideo Hosono

Congratulatory addressby H.E. Mr. Tadamori Oshima,
Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives

Dr. & Mrs. Steven D. Tanksley

Opening remarksby Dr. Yoshio Yazaki,
President of the Japan
Prize Foundation

Selection results
by Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama,
Chairman of the Selection
Committee

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress
attending the presentation ceremony

Commemorative concert
by the Tokyo Geidai Symphony Orchestra

Banquet

Following the presentation ceremony, a banquet in honor of the laureates was held at a hotel in the city. In response to a toast given by His
Majesty the Emperor, over 300 guests raised their glasses to congratulate Dr. Hideo Hosono and Dr. Steven D. Tanksley on their achievement
once again. Amid the beautiful strains performed by a string quartet and a harp, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress engaged in pleasantconversation with the laureates and their partners seated by their side. The banquet which spanned an hour and a half came to a close with acongratulatory message from President Yamazaki of the House of Councillors and acknowledgement speeches from both laureates.
Dr. Hosono explained that it is the joy he feels upon making an enlightening discovery that keeps him motivated in his daily research work. He
shared his belief that the mission of materials research is to transform simple substances into useful materials with practical applications in society.
He also expressed his gratitude to his mentors who have guided him and the many fellow researchers with whom he has collaborated.
Dr. Tanksley spoke of his meeting with Prof. Takumi Tsuchiya, a professor of plant genetics during his time at Colorado State University, who
influenced him to pursue a career in plant genetics. He expressed his joy in receiving an award in the country where Prof. Tsuchiya’s career began
and thanked those who have supported him over the years.

Toast by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

Opening addressby Prof. Hiroyuki Yoshikawa,
Chairman of the Japan Prize Foundation

Congratulatory address by H.E. Mr. Masaaki Yamazaki,
President of House of Councillors

Acknowledgment
by Dr. Hideo Hosono

Acknowledgment
by Dr. Steven D. Tanksley

2016 (32nd) Japan Prize Commemorative Lectures
Element Strategy and Future Materials Modern Crop Breeding Through the Development of Genome Analysis Techniques
On Thursday, April 21st, the day following the presentation ceremony, commemorative lectures by Dr. Hosono and Dr. Tanksley were
held at Tokyo Institute of Technology’s Kuramae Hall. In front of 300 members of the audience, comprised of researchers and the generalpublic, Dr. Hosono discussed materials he has created and their mechanisms, including IGZO-TFT, electrically conductive cement andiron-based superconductors, all of which are fruits of his commitment to “creating new functional materials in areas that no one has yet
succeeded in.” He also spoke of the rewarding nature of research and the sense of accomplishment it has brought.
Dr. Tanksley gave an account of the creation of chromosomal maps for tomatoes through genome analysis and of the elucidation of
Quantitative Trait Loci(QTL) located on it. He also mentioned that advancement in plant genetics and selective breeding will become themajor force to help meet the growing demand for crops across the globe.
Prior to the lecture, discussion meetings were held between the laureates and young researchers, in which the laureates were showered withnumerous questions on topics such as one’s attitude towards research. Some questions were so challenging that the laureates had to pause andthink. Through these heated discussions, the laureates gave their heartfelt encouragement to the young up-and-coming researchers.
"Materials and Production" ﬁeld

"Biological Production and Biological Environment" ﬁeld

T hemeTh emeElement Strategy and Future Materials

The Molecular Basis of Natural Variationand the Implications for Plant Improvement(Dr. Hideo Hosono)

All substances around us are made of merely 100-odd elements from theperiodic table. To put it the other way around, an infinite variety of materials canbe created through different combinations of elements. This fact deeply inspired
Dr. Hosono as a high school student. Dr. Hosono says of element strategy that, “I
aspire to the kind of materials development by which I can overturn traditionallyheld notions about elements by giving them completely new functions.”
What lies at the root of Dr. Hosono’ s research is the glass-like transparent oxide.
Although it is a fundamentally insulating material due to its “wide band gap”
property, he dared to challenge this common assumption. In 1994, he began researchon transparent conductive materials and in 1997, successfully developed the world’ s
first “p-type transparent oxide semiconductor.” Furthermore, In-Ga-Zn-O thin filmtransistor (IGZO-TFT), which Dr. Hosono was the first to develop, boasts hightransparency, high electron mobility and greater energy efficiency. Today, it is used
in a wide range of displays from PC monitors to tablet devices.
Dr. Hosono also took up the challenge of searching for electronic functions ofcalcium aluminum oxide C12A7, the main ingredient in cement. Cement is an
insulator by nature, but replacing the oxide ions inside the nano-sized cage
structure of C12A7 with electrons causes it to become electrically conductive
like a metal. Furthermore, Dr. Hosono created “electrides,” which becomesuperconductive at low temperatures.
Electrides have the potential for a variety of applications but as Dr. Hosono’ s
ultimate goal is to create materials that are “essential for life,” he is currently
developing a technique to use electrides as a catalyst in ambient pressure
synthesis of ammonia, an indispensable substance for industry.
Another of Dr. Hosono’ s research achievements that caused a worldwide
sensation is the iron-based high-Tc superconducting material. Up till then, iron
was deemed unsuitable for superconductivity due to being a magnetic element.
However, when an original crystal structure was introduced, this long held belief
was overturned. In 2006, Dr. Hosono reported his discovery of thesuperconductive nature of iron-based compounds (LaFePO). Today,
development is underway for their practical application.
Dr. Hosono set forth three keywords, namely, “sustainability”,“cross-disciplinary” and “materials design,” as the future direction of materials
research. He also stressed that in order for discoveries to mature to the point thatthey can benefit society, it is important to bring together knowledge from various
fields. In fact, Dr. Hosono engages researchers from various fields to work withhim on the development of nitride semiconductors, such as making use ofmathematics to design materials. Dr. Hosono concluded the lecture by sharing
his vision for the future, with these words: “In the days ahead, the fusion of thetheoretical and the experimental will usher in a new age in materials science.”(Dr. Steven D. Tanksley)

Today’ s crops are the product of many years of selective breeding. Selective
breeding had once relied largely on experience and intuition, but advancements
in genome analysis techniques since the 1980s have brought about atransformational change. Dr. Steven D. Tanksley has been at the forefront of the
field throughout this development.
Many of the traits we desire in crops such as “larger size” and “greater yield”
are not determined by a single gene but by a complex interplay of multiple genes
on the chromosome with environmental factors. Therein lay the difficulty of
selective breeding. Genes of this nature are called QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci).
In the 1980s, Dr. Tanksley developed a technique to locate the position ofimportant QTL on the chromosome of crops like tomatoes and rice, using the
RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) method. In the lecture, Dr.
Tanksley described his technique by likening it to a road map. The roads on thismap were separated by important landmarks and locations could be understoodas, “the destination is between C and D.” To apply the RFLP method to thisanalogy, one can think of the landmarks as the difference in length of DNA
fragments cut by the restriction enzyme. Then the fragment with a differing
length becomes the DNA marker and reveals the location of important QTL on
the chromosome. Using this method, a chromosome map that identifies the
positions of QTL on the chromosome could be created.
Today, selective breeding that utilizes DNA markers in this way are used
extensively throughout the industry. At the same time, anticipation on thepotential of selective breeding is greater than ever. Dr. Tanksley says that “sincethe 1960s, the area of arable land per person has halved as the global population
has increased rapidly. We have so far managed to meet the demand for foodproduction through innovations in agricultural techniques, but new techniques inselective breeding will become indispensable in the future.”
The driving force behind the next generation of selective breeding will comefrom advancements in molecular genetics. Dr. Tanksley points out the dramaticfall in the cost of DNA base sequence analysis over the last decade. He says,“our latest challenge is how to utilize all of the information we obtain.” There
has been great diversification in available genetic information which is resources
for selective breeding. “Untapped natural genetic diversity” is certainly crucial.
But more recently, genes attained from “genetically modified crops” and“artificially induced mutations and gene editing” are also becoming importantresources. These were described by Dr. Tanksley as a “gene pool.”Dr. Tanksley shared his desire that, in the future, he would like to researchmethods for gene resource utilization in cooperation with researchers not only ofagriculture and biology but also of mathematics and other disciplines, andcontribute to the creation of selective breeding for the next generation.

Japan Prize Week

J A P A N

/18

4

Welcome Reception（Mon.）

Courtesy
Call on the Japan Academy

Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister

Academic Roundtable Discussion（Tue.）/20

Presentation Ceremony/21

Courtesy Call on the U.S. Embassy

4

BanquetP R I Z E

/19

4

（Wed.）

Commemorative Lectures（Thu.）

Sightseeing in Kyoto（Sat.）In Sento Imperial Palace

In Matsushita Shinshin-An

P H O T O S/234

W E E K

4

Fields Eligible for the 2017 Japan Prize
Area ofPhysics, Chemistry and Engineering

Electronics, Information and Communication

Background and rationale:

In recent years, we have seen new waves of technological development from devices to systems, in various fields of electronics,
information and communication, such as artificial intelligence, big data, IoT, next generation network, robotics and energy utilization. In
particular, innovation derived from the rapid and efficient utilization of large data generated across broad areas is anticipated to spawn new
cultures, lifestyles and types of manufacturing, thereby contributing enormously to the advancement of our society.
Meanwhile, the various incidental phenomena that are threatening the safety and security of our lives can no longer be ignored, making thedevelopment of technological solutions an urgent matter.

Achievement eligible:

The 2017 Japan Prize in the field of “Electronics, Information and Communication” will be awarded to an individual(s) who has achievedscientific and technological breakthroughs, such as development of essential technologies or systems that contribute significantly and widelyto the creation of new industries, to the innovation of manufacturing technologies, to the advancement of information and knowledge driven
society, and to the assurance of our society’s safety and security, as well as basic research and development that is highly likely to drive thefuture advancement of our society.
Area of
Life Science, Agriculture and Medicine

Life Science

Background and rationale:

The field of life science has been increasingly expanding and deepening in recent years, leading to remarkable advances in our understanding oflife itself.
For example, genome and epigenome analysis using next-generation sequencing, OMICs analysis using mass spectrometry, molecular andmorphological analysis using super-resolution microscopy or three-dimensional electron microscopy, and various analyses using genome editing
techniques are progressing at an incredible pace. Such innovative analysis technologies have contributed to numerous revolutionary discoveries.
While we must respect bioethics and handle personal information very carefully, the advancement of our understanding of the life phenomenon
will be of tremendous benefit to humanity and lead to the creation and spread of new fields of medicine in the future.

Achievement eligible:

The 2017 Japan Prize in the field of “Life Science” will be awarded to an individual(s) who has achieved scientific and technologicalbreakthroughs, such as the discovery of new life phenomena and innovation in analysis techniques that facilitate the elucidation of biological
functions, thereby contributing significantly to our society.

The Japan Prize Foundation
The Japan Prize Foundation was established in 1982, with the aim of contributing to the further development ofscience and technology. In addition to recognizing outstanding achievements with the Japan Prize, the Foundation has
been promoting science and technology by hosting the "Easy-to-understand Science and Technology Seminars" andawarding Research Grants to help nurture young scientists.

Research Grants
The Foundation provides research
grants to scientists and researchers
under 35 years of age. Every year, theFoundation selects projects in the same
fields as the corresponding Japan Prizeand gives one million Japanese yen fora project. In 2015, studies in “Clean &Sustainable Energy” were added as aneligible field of study to the two fields
designated for the 2015 Japan Prize.
Including the 20 recipients in 2015, theFoundation awarded research grants to
204 young scientists since theprogram’ s inception in 2006.

“Easy-to-Understand Science andTechnology Seminars”

Stockholm International YouthScience Seminar (SIYSS)For junior and senior high school
students, the Foundation holds aseries of seminars on advanced
technologies commonly used ineveryday life by inviting Research
Grant recipients as lecturers. They
explain state-of-the-art technologies
in plain terms. The program began in
March 1989 and has since executed
269 seminars across Japan by the endof 2014.

Each year, the Japan Prize Foundation
provides an opportunity for young scientists
to exchange opinions with their peers on aninternational level by sending two students
to the Stockholm International YouthScience Seminar hosted by the Swedish
Federation of Young scientists with thesupport of the Nobel Foundation. Youngscientists from Japan and elsewhere in theworld attend various events during Nobel
Week in Stockholm. Since the program
started in 1987, the Japan Prize Foundation
has provided this valuable opportunity to 56
undergraduate/ graduate students.