Commemorative Celebration Held for Distinguished Honorary Professor Shimon Sakaguchi, 2025 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, a commemorative celebration was held at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka in honor of Distinguished Honorary Professor Shimon Sakaguchi, recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Approximately 130 guests with close ties to the University of Osaka attended the event.

The celebration opened with remarks by President Atsushi Kumanogoh, followed by congratulatory addresses from Director-General Takashi Fuchigami of the Research Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Commemorative gifts and bouquets were then presented.

Opening Remarks by President Atsushi Kumanogoh

Congratulatory Remarks by Takashi Fuchigami, Director-General of the Research Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Presentation of Commemorative Gifts (From left: Yukiko Urabe, Chief of the General Affairs Section, Immunology Frontier Research Center; Kiyoshi Takeda, Director of the Immunology Frontier Research Center; Distinguished Honorary Professor Shimon Sakaguchi; and Mrs. Noriko Sakaguchi. The commemorative gifts included a special Nobel Prize edition of the University’s official mascot character “Dr. Wani” and the University’s original sake, “Ogata Koan.”)

Distinguished Professor Shimon Sakaguchi subsequently delivered remarks of appreciation, after which a toast was proposed by President Hitoshi Nakagama of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). Finally, former President Shojiro Nishio offered closing remarks, bringing the celebration to a successful close.

Remarks of Appreciation by Distinguished Honorary Professor Shimon Sakaguchi

Toast by President Hitoshi Nakagama of AMED

Closing Remarks by Former President Shojiro Nishio

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