Professor AKIRA Shizuo Attended the 2026 Japan Prize Award Ceremony

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the award ceremony for the Japan Prize—an honor bestowed upon scientists who have made original and significant contributions to science and technology worldwide and greatly advanced the peace and prosperity of humanity—was held grandly at the New National Theatre in Tokyo. The event was organized by the Japan Prize Foundation.

From the University of Osaka, Professor AKIRA Shizuo (Distinguished Professor and Specially Appointed Professor at the Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS) who received the award in the field of Life Science attended the ceremony.

<Achievement> Discovery of the nucleic acid sensing mechanism by the innate immune system
Professor AKIRA’s work not only established the concept of innate immunity but also revolutionized the understanding of the immune system as a whole by revealing that innate immunity instructs the adaptive immune system, including antibody producing cells. This discovery has paved the way for the development of new vaccines and immunotherapies, offering crucial insights that are driving progress in both medical care and preventive medicine.

The ceremony was held in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and was attended by approximately 600 guests, including the heads of the three branches of government, relevant cabinet ministers, and representatives from various sectors. The ceremony featured remarks from His Majesty the Emperor, addresses by the three laureates, including Professor AKIRA, and a congratulatory message delivered by SEKIGUCHI Masakazu, President of the House of Councillors.

Japan Prize laureates are selected based on nominations submitted by approximately 16,000 distinguished scientists and engineers from Japan and around the world. In the Life Science field this year, 185 nominations were submitted, and following a strict review process, the laureates were selected.

The recording of this year’s award ceremony is available at the link here.

(The URL is cited from the Japan Prize Foundation website)

<Related Links>
Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, The University of Osaka
https://www.camad.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/
Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka
https://www.ifrec.osaka-u.ac.jp/index.htm
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka
https://www.biken.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/