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

NO. 12FEBRUARY 1993

Shisei Kaikan, 1-3, Hibiya-Koen,Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan 100
Tel. 03 (3508) 7691

Categories Chosen for The 10th Anniversary Japan Prizein 1994 and The Rotating Areas Decided within Which The
Prize Categories Will Fall from 1995 (11th) to 2003 (19th)
The Foundation announced that the two categories for the tenthJapan Prize, to be awarded in 1994, are "Aerospace Technologies"and "Psychology and Psychiatry."
The concepts of such categories are as in the right coloumn.
Further detailed explanations on the categories are made in thefollowing Q&A format by Dr. Jiro Kondo, the Chairman of the 1994
Fields Selection Committee and the President of the Science Councilof Japan.
The Japan Prize, launched in 1985, is an international prize
awarded to sci_entists and researchers who have made original andoutstanding achievements in science and technology. The recipients are recognized for contributing not only to the progress ofscience and technology, but also to peace and prosperity formankind.
Every year, two fields of research are selected for the award of
the Japan Prize.
"Aerospace Technologies"
Q: We would like to have the Chairman's comments on why has"Aerospace Technologies" been selected?

A: The development of aerospace engineering has extended theareas of activity of human beings from two-dimensions (plane) tothree-dimensions (space).
During the period of such expansion, majority of innovative technologies has been applied to the three-dimensional area and has
become a center of engineering.
Q: What about the fact that "Aerospace Technologies" has beenused for wars?

Dr. Jiro Kondo, Chairman ofthe 1994 Fields SelectionCommittee

A: It was true that in the World War
11, commanding of the air was thekey to the victory.
However it is also the fact and everybody recognizes that, in the latter
half of the century, the development of civil air traffic has made aremarkable development and has
made a great contribution to theprosperity of mankind.
In space, there has been a scheme
to use satellites for the Star Warssuch as, SDI, but at present satellites have been utilized for scientific exploration, resources sensing, environmental preservation,

Concepts of the Categories
Aerospace Technologies
In the 20th century, mankind expanded its activities into space beyond thesurface of our planet, by the development of aeroplanes and spacecraft.
Today, it has brought complete changes in our daily lives: aeroplanes fly over
the world's continents, TV programs are broadcast live through the communication satellites and weather is forecast with the use of meteorological satellites.
The Prize for 1994 will be awarded for outstanding achievements in the basic
technologies supporting the development of aeroplanes and spacecraft, e.g. (1)structures, materials, propulsions, controls, aerodynamics, space navigation,
space communications and remote controls for flying machines such as
aeroplanes, rockets, artificial satellites and spacecraft, (2), as applications of (1)above, satellite communications, satellite broadcasting, the earth observations
from space, remote sensing such as resource surveillance and (3) as arelated
application, space environmental applications.

Psychology and Psychiatry
Problems of population explosion and contamination of the environment are
being widely spread over the earth and infrastructural developments ofadvanced technologies and information systems among advanced industrial
countries have brought about various and psychological stresses among people.
Research in the field of neuroscience has been promoted in order to have
abetter understanding of the intellectual functions of brains. The fundamentals
for mechanisms and functional changes in the fields relating to emotions andintentions have recently been elucidated by using methods based on naturalsciences. Such research is the center for the development of psychology(i.e. studies of the mind) and psychiatry (i.e. studies for disorders ofmental functions).
The Prize for 1994 will be awarded for outstanding achievements in theresearch and development of natural sciences relating to psychology andpsychiatry.
telecommunication and weather observation. Any technology canbe used for military application. However, any science and technology in the context of military application cannot be consideredwithin the category covered of the Japan Prize.
Q: In this category of extended coverage can an individual scientist

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be nominated for the prize?
A: Yes, there are many individuals who have made outstanding
contributions to the development of technology within the scope of
this category, although the actual selection will be hard. No organization and enterprise such as NASA, Boeing, ESA and Airbus Industry can be a nominee of the Japan Prize.
"Psychology and Psychiatry"

Q: What specific areas can be included in the research and develop-ment of natural sciences relating to psychology and psychiatry?
A: Areas of research and development of natural sciences relating
to functions of nervous systems include various ac hievements
employing methods such as phys iology, chemistry, pharmacology,morphology and molecular biology.
Studies in such areas concerning animal behavior and the normaland abnormal human mental activities can be included.
Q: What about achievements employing technologies of infor-mation sciences and image analyses which have recently beenradically developed?
A: If such achievements fall in the category above, they should beincluded.

A 1994 Fields Selection Committee meeting

The Foundation announced that for the Japan Prize forthe years 1995 to 2003 inclusive, the areas within which the Prizecategories will fall will rotate every three years as shown in thefollowing schedule.
The schedule also shows as a way of example which categories,
falling within each area, will be considered for the Prize.

list of Japan Prize 3-year rotating Areas from1995 (11th) through 2003 (19th)
1. Category Areas I (e.g. Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Engineering)
VearPrize

1995

11th

1998

14th

2001

17th

1996

12th

1999

15th

2002

18th

1997

13th

2000

16th

2003

19th

... . .......... ......

Area
Materials Science and.. Technology

Japan Prize Categories"Materials Science and Technology" (2nd)"Electro-Optics" (3rd)"Science and Technology of Material Interfaces" (8th)Non-Materials Science andTechnology

e.g. software, information,communication, applied mathematics,
energy, computer, etc.

"Information and Communications" (1st)"Energy Technology" (4th)"Technology of lntegr.:ition - Design, Production andControl Technologies" (6th)"Applied Mathematics" (7th)System Science ande.g. ecosystem, aerospace, ocean,city planning, disaster prevention,
safety engineering, etc.

"Environmental Science and Technology" (5th)"Earth Science" (6th)"Safety Engineering and Disaster Mitigation" (9th)"Aerospace Technologies" (10th)...... . .... .....

... ... . ..... . .. ........ .

Categorye.g. hardware, new material, productionengineering, electronics, electro-optics,etc .

......... .. ............ .

.... .... ..... .. . ..... .. Technology....... , ... ..... .... ...

2. Category Areas II (e.g. Biology, Agriculture and Medicine)
VearPrize

Area

1995

11th
14th

2001

17th

e.g. land use technology, ecology,agricultural technology, forestry
technology, fishery technology,environment, etc.

"Improvements of Biological Functions" (3rd)"Science and Technology for Biological Production" (8th)1998

Science and Technology forProduction of Food andPreservation of Environment

1996

12th

Life Science and Technology

1999

15th

e.g. brain, aging, psychology,
behavioral science, pharmacological
technology, etc.

"Biotechnology" (1st)"Medicinal Science" (5th)"Psychology and Psychiatry" (10th)

2002

18th

1997

13th

Health Care and Therapeutice.g. innovative medical technology,promotion of human health, preventionof diseases, etc.

"Medical Engineering" (1st)"Medical Technology" (2nd)"Preventative Medicine" (4th)"Imaging Techniques in Medicine" (7th)"Molecular and Cellular Technology in Medicine" (9th)..... ..... ... ...... , ... ..
......... .. .. ... .... .....

.. .... ..... . ..... ...
.. ... . . .. .. .... ...

.............. .. .... . .. Science and Technology
2000.. ... .

2003

16th

.... .. .

19th

Category

Japan Prize Categories

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Two American Scientists Named The Laureatesof the 1993 (9th) Japan Prize
The Foundation announced the two laureates of the 1993 (9th) Japan Prize. The detail of the laureates is as fo llows.
The prize presentation ceremony will to be held at the National Theatre in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 28. Besides the certificate of meritand medal, each laureates will receive a cash award of ¥50 million (Approx. US$400,000).

Category of Safety Engineering and Disaster Mitigation

Category of Molecular and Cellular Techhology in Medicine

Dr. Frank Press (U.S.A.)
President of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences

Dr. Kary B. Mullis (U.S.A.)
Founder and Vice President Research ofAtomic Tags, Inc.

Reasons for Award: Development of Modern
Seismology and Advancement of International
Cooperation in Disaster Science
Dr. Press was the first to propose that the dispersion of long
period earthquake surface wave motion could be used as a tool
for studying the structure of the earth's crust and upper
mantle. Dr. Press verified by the analysis of surface waves thatthe occurrence of an earthquake is fault motion itself. It was thebeginning of modern seismology and the forerunner for studies
on earthquake mechanisms.
Dr. Press helped bring about the International GeophysicalYear (IGY) 1957-1958, the first worldwide attempt to measureand map various geophysical phenomena. During the IGY,instruments known as the Press-Ewing Seismographs wereinstalled at ten places all over the world, which became theorigin of the Worldwide Standardized Seismograph Network(WWSSN). Dr. Press exercised supreme leadership to promote
the cause of scientific research and development in the area ofdisaster mitigation. He was instrumental in initiating the US
national program in earthquake prediction. As demonstrated
by his efforts for IGY and WWSSN, he recognized the importance of international cooperation in disaster sciences. Heconceived and has been a leader in promoting the International
Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), a UN program
starting from 1990 In which the international community under
the auspices of the United Nations will pay special attention
during the last decade of the century to fostering international
cooperation in the field of natural disaster (such as earthquakes, floods , droughts, volcanos, landslides, windstorms
and wildfires) reduction.

Reasons for Award: Development of the Polymerase
Chain Reaction
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionizedmolecular biology, medicine and many other related scientificfields In analyzing genes, a major problem is that targets arerare in a complex genome. Many of the techniques involving theanalysis and manipulation of genomic DNA are concerned withovercoming this problem. These techniques are very timeconsuming, involving cloning and methods for detecting specific DNA sequences. The PCR has changed all this situation byenabling us to produce a specified DNA sequence without
resorting to cloning.
The PCR was first applied to amplification of B-globin genomic
sequences and restriction analysis for diagnosis of sickle cellanemia. Thus, in medicine the PCR has had a major impact onthe diagnosis.

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Second Special Seminar Heldby Foundation in Fukuoka City
The Foundation held its second General Science and Technology
Seminar in Fukuoka City on November 6, 1992. The seminar wasorganized in response to enthusiastic requests from the Fukuoka
community after a previous seminar, the Foundation's first outside
Tokyo, was held in Fukuoka in November 1991.
The seminar took place in the lecture hall of the Fukuoka
Municipal Office under the co-sponsorship of the Fukuoka CityGovernment.
The Foundation holds monthly Seminars in Tokyo to develop anddisseminate information and ide.as regarding science and technology. Distinguished scholars, scientists and engineers from Japanand overseas are invited to participate as lecturers.
The lecturers at the Fukuokaseminarwere Ryozaburo Yamamoto,a professor emeritus of Kyoto University, and Professor Yoshihiko
Otsuki ofWaseda University's Department of Science and Engineering. Prof. Yamamoto lectured about the theme "The Science ofGlobal Warming- The Global Climate in the 21st Century?" and Prof.
Otsuki gave a presentation entitled "Scientific and Unscientific
Aspects of Supernatural Phenomena." The lectures were attended
by approximately 350 people, including Fukuoka's Mayor Keiichi
Kuwahara.
Prof. Yamamoto discussed changes in the global environment,
including global warming and rising sea-levels, which have become
reasons for concern in recent years. After explaining theatmosphere's greenhouse effect and the mechanisms of global
warming, he talked about simulations using super computers, themost promising new method for forecasting climates. The professor
presented his forecasts of global climate in the 21st century,
explaining that although such forecasting has made steadyProf. Ryozaburo Yamamoto

Prof. Yoshihiko Otsuki

advances, many uncertainties still exist regarding weather in thenext century.
· Professor Otsuki spoke about supernatural, scientificallyunsubstantiated phenomena, a subject which has attracted substantial attention particularly in the latter half of this century. The
professor cited specific examples such as superhuman powers, andpresented the social as well as religious perspectives on thesephenomena. Warning that not everything can be explained byscience, Professor Otsuki stated that a broader scientific scope will
be needed to better understand supernatural phenomena in thenext century.

Scenes at the Fukuoka City
Special Seminar