Japan PM Takaichi calls Nobel chemistry laureate Soai to offer congratulations
In short
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae telephoned Soai Kenzo, an emeritus professor at Tokyo University of Science, on the evening of Oct 7 to congratulate him on winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, telling him she was “very proud as a Japanese.” Soai thanked the government for its past support and, according to Nikkei and Nippon TV, told the prime minister to take care of her health. Takaichi said her government would expand Kakenhi research grants and national university operating subsidies.
Read the full story 2 min read
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae telephoned Soai Kenzo, an emeritus professor at Tokyo University of Science, on the evening of Oct 7 to congratulate him on winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, according to the Prime Minister's Office and domestic outlets. In the call she said she was “very proud as a Japanese,” a remark carried by Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, TBS NEWS DIG, Nikkei, Asahi Shimbun and Nippon TV News. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Takaichi described the achievement as groundbreaking, saying the research results lead to the elucidation of the origin of life, a mystery common to all humanity. Soai thanked her, saying he had received various support from the government, and told her he would do as much as he could. Nikkei and Nippon TV reported that Soai also urged the prime minister to take care of her health, saying she works hard every day for Japan and the world. Nikkei added that Takaichi noted congratulatory calls were flooding in and that Soai had a press conference ahead of him. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The prime minister also said her government would expand Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi) and national university operating subsidies in order to strengthen the base for science and technology research. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The Prime Minister's Office issued a written comment the same day saying the prize recognizes the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. It said it respected Soai's achievements and was proud that a discovery stemming from a Japanese researcher's original thinking had been recognized by the world and contributed to the sustainable development of human society, and it pledged to keep supporting original and diverse research and to train the people who carry it out. Mainichi Shimbun, by contrast, described the award-winning work as the discovery of an asymmetric autocatalytic reaction. [ 2 , 8 ]
The coverage was uniform and quick: six business-tier outlets and NHK carried the call within about an hour of one another, drawing on the same remarks, and the Prime Minister's Office statement was published last. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
A congratulatory call of this kind lets the government tie a rare national honour to its research-funding policy: Takaichi used the call to restate a pledge to expand Kakenhi grants and national university operating subsidies. The Prime Minister's Office issued its own written comment, so the award was handled as an official matter as well as a scientific one. The documents describe no funding decision beyond that stated intention.
Key facts
- Soai Kenzo, an emeritus professor at Tokyo University of Science, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae telephoned Soai on the evening of Oct 7 to convey her congratulations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Takaichi said she was “very proud as a Japanese.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Takaichi called the research groundbreaking and said it could lead to the elucidation of the origin of life, a mystery common to all humanity. [ 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- Takaichi said the government would expand Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi) and national university operating subsidies to strengthen the base for science and technology research. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Soai thanked the government for its support. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Soai told the prime minister to take care of her health, saying she works hard every day for Japan and the world. [ 5 , 7 ]
- The Prime Minister's Office said the prize recognized the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis. [ 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Soai Kenzo, emeritus professor at Tokyo University of Science, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae called Soai on the evening of Oct 7 to congratulate him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Takaichi told Soai she was “very proud as a Japanese.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Takaichi said her government would expand Kakenhi research grants and national university operating subsidies. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Soai expressed thanks to the government for its support. [ 2 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- The exact time of the telephone call. The documents say only that the call took place on the evening of Oct 7 and give no specific time.
- The description of the research the prize recognizes. Mainichi Shimbun says the award reason was the discovery of an asymmetric autocatalytic reaction, while the Prime Minister's Office describes it as the discovery of nonlinear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.
- Whether Soai held the press conference that Nikkei reported was ahead of him. Only Nikkei mentions an upcoming press conference, and no document says it took place.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yomiuri Shimbun publishes its report on the prime minister's congratulatory call. [ 1 ]
- Mainichi Shimbun reports the call and Takaichi's remark that she is very proud as a Japanese. [ 2 ]
- NHK News reports the call and the government's intention to strengthen the science and technology research base. [ 3 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the call in a flash bulletin. [ 4 ]
- Nikkei reports the call, including Soai's replies and the note that congratulatory calls were flooding in. [ 5 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reports the call. [ 6 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the call with quotes from both sides. [ 7 ]
- The Prime Minister's Office issues its written comment on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. [ 8 ]