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.