2026 Japan Prize Laureates Announced

The Japan Prize Foundation has announced the recipients of the 2026 Japan Prize. Professor Cynthia Dwork (USA) has been awarded the Japan Prize in the field of Electronics, Information and Communications. Professors Shizuo Akira (Japan) and Zhijian “James” Chen (USA) have jointly received the Japan Prize in Life Science.

This year, Professor Dwork is honored for her pioneering contributions to building an ethical digital society, particularly through her foundational work in differential privacy and algorithmic fairness. Professors Akira and Chen are recognized for their groundbreaking discoveries concerning the mechanisms by which the innate immune system senses nucleic acids—key insights that have reshaped our understanding of immune responses and opened new avenues for therapeutic development.

To select the 2026 laureates, the Foundation invited approximately 16,000 leading scientists and engineers worldwide to nominate candidates in the two designated fields. A total of 107 nominations were received in Electronics, Information and Communications, and 185 in Life Science, resulting in 292 nominees overall. The winners were chosen from this highly competitive pool.

Established in 1981 at the initiative of the Japanese government, the Japan Prize was created to recognize outstanding scientific and technological achievements that advance global progress and contribute to peace and prosperity for humanity. With support from numerous donors, The Japan Prize Foundation was officially recognized by Japan’s Cabinet Office in 1983.

The Japan Prize is awarded annually to individuals whose original and transformative accomplishments have significantly advanced their fields. Each year, two scientific or technological domains are selected based on current global trends. In principle, one laureate is honored per field, though joint awards may be granted when warranted by collaborative breakthroughs. Recipients receive a certificate, a commemorative medal, and a substantial monetary award.

The annual award ceremony is attended by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, heads of the three branches of government, senior officials, and distinguished representatives from academia, industry, and civil society—underscoring the nation’s deep respect for scientific excellence and its global impact.