The Japan Academy

Award of Prizes

The Imperial Prize, Japan Academy Prize

Imperial Gift presented to Imperial Prize winner
Imperial Gift presented to
Imperial Prize winner

The Imperial and Japan Academy Prizes are awarded to persons who have achieved notable research landmarks or who have authored particularly outstanding academic papers or books. Conferring these prizes on such persons is one of the Academy's most important functions. For them, an award ceremony has been held every year since 1911, with 2024 marking the 114th such ceremony.* Since 1949, the ceremony has been graced by the presence of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Then from 1990, both the Emperor and Empress have attended.
*The 110th award ceremony was postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the suggestion of His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh Prize was adopted as a Japan Academy conferment in June 1987. This prize was awarded once every two years to 18 Japanese scientists with outstanding achievements in the area of wildlife protection and species preservation until 2023, when it was terminated due to the passing of His Royal Highness.

Prize Contents Awardees
Imperial Prize One Imperial Prize is awarded every year in each of its two categories: humanities and natural sciences. The awardees are selected from among recipients for that year's Japan Academy Prize. The Prize comprises a certificate and a vase presented as an imperial gift by the Emperor. 187
Japan Academy Prize Up to nine of these Prizes are awarded every year. They comprise a certificate, medal, and prize money of one million yen. 859

Prize Recipients

Japan Academy Medal

This prize was newly instituted in 2004. Its purpose is to give formal recognition to outstanding young researchers, while encouraging them in their future work. Awardees are selected from among the annual recipients of the JSPS Prize administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. In February 2025, the 21st Award Ceremony for the Japan Academy Medal and JSPS Prize was held in the presence of their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino.

Prize Contents Awardees
Japan Academy Medal Awarded every year to up to six persons, this prize consists of a certificate , a medal and a commemorative object. 122

Prize Recipients