"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)
Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2018: Comment by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

[Place]
[Date] October 1, 2018
[Source] Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet
[Notes] Provisional translation
[Full text]

Dr. Tasuku Honjo, Distinguished Professor at Kyoto University, has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

I was truly pleased to learn that the Nobel Prize was awarded to a Japanese person, and would like to express my heartfelt respect for the achievements of Professor Honjo.

This award reflects the high acclaim given worldwide to Professor Honjo's discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation.

I take great pride as a citizen of Japan in the fact that this discovery of truth, achieved through the creative ideas of a Japanese researcher, has greatly contributed to the continued progress of humankind and the international community and has been recognized by the world.

The Government of Japan aims to continue stimulating innovation in all fields. We will firmly support creative and diverse research and strongly promote the training and fostering of researchers.

Shinzo Abe

Prime Minister of Japan

October 1, 2018