Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a congratulatory telephone call to Professor Isamu Akasaki of Meijo University, recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics.

In his congratulatory remarks, the Prime Minister said the following,

“I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to you on winning the Nobel Prize for Physics. I am sure that all Japanese people feel proud of, and delighted about, your achievement.

In particular, the blue light-emitting diode that you developed will truly result in energy-saving in lighting and illumination. I am very pleased that many people will experience the benefits of your development, through the light you have brought to the world.

I have heard that, in the course of this development, you experienced failure many times, but continued with your research and never gave up. I’m sure it must have been extremely difficult. Again, I would like to express my happiness at your wonderful achievement and wish you every success with the various future challenges that I hear you plan to undertake. Following your example, I too would like to exert my best efforts to take on all challenges in a spirit of never giving up. I wish you continued good health and hope, and that winning this Nobel Prize will spur you on to even greater achievements.

Along with you, two other Japanese researchers were also Nobel Prize winners. It is wonderful that you have come up with a process in which Japanese people are involved at every stage, from development to mass production of a world-first technology.

I am convinced that your accomplishment has demonstrated to the world the high level of Japanese technology. Please take good care of your health, while continuing to take on further research challenges at the same time.

Again, my sincere congratulations.”