[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a congratulatory telephone call to Tokyo Institute of Technology Honorary Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

During his congratulatory remarks, the Prime Minister said,

I want to truly congratulate you, Professor Ohsumi, for being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

I am truly proud as a Japanese citizen that the results of your research have given hope to those suffering from difficult-to-treat diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
I have heard that you often talk of the importance of rising to the challenge of doing things that no one else is doing. I believe that this attitude of attempting challenges is what led to your award, and that you have greatly encouraged the young researchers who are following in your footsteps.

With your award, Japanese researchers have won Nobel Prizes three years in a row. I am extremely pleased that Japan is able to lead the world through innovation in fields such as biology and medicine, and that we can contribute to the world in this way.

Please take good care of your health. I expect that you will continue to be even more active in academia globally.

Again, my sincere congratulations.”