Professor Akasaki being congratulated by his research staff at a press conference on October 7

On October 7, 2014, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that Professor Isamu Akasaki (professor in the Graduate School of Science and Technology) was one of three persons awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in physics for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). For the past few years, Professor Akasaki and Professor Iijima (who discovered carbon nanotubes) in Meijo University have been touted as the candidates in physics and chemistry categories. Meijo University and indeed all of Japan is overjoyed with this news, which marks the first Nobel Prize for a researcher at a private university in Chubu region.

As soon as the Noble Foundation made an announcement through the website, students in Professor Akasaki’s laboratory located in building No. 2 started shouting with joy and congratulations.

Professor Akasaki walked toward the university’s Headquarters Building with the applause, and gave a press conference at 7 p.m.

Fisrt, University President Toshiharu Nakane made a congratulatory Speech. After that, Professor Akasaki said that he had received a phone call in advance from the Nobel Foundation.

“The news was somewhat surprising, and I have never been honored like this before. I would like to thank everyone involved at Nagoya University, which supported my research for so many years, and at Meijo University, which has provided me with my current place of research.”

Professor Akasaki shares this Nobel Prize with Hiroshi Amano of Nagoya University (formerly a professor at Meijo University) and Shuji Nakamura of the University of California, Santa Barbara. “Professor Amano worked so hard with me. Professor Nakamura also put everything he had into his work. The three of us have won some other prizes together.”

A congratulatory phone call from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came during the press conference. Said Mr. Abe, “All people in Japan are proud and jubilant about your award. I would like to keep on challenging like you do.”

Joining Professor Akasaki at the press conference were university President Nakane, Vice President Hiroaki Katori, and Koichi Yoshihisa, dean of the Graduate School of Science and Technology.

Award Was Joyous News for 180,000 Graduates

Professor Akasaki, my sincere congratulations to your Nobel Prize in physics.

Professor Akasaki has received countless honors up to now: the 2011 Order of Culture from the Japanese government; an Edison Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); and an Intellectual Property Special Contribution Award from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). In 2014, he won a Japan Academy Prize and an Imperial Prize from the Japan Academy. And now, he has won the long-awaited Nobel Prize. I am overjoyed that Professor Akasaki’s outstanding research has won him this honor. It is also a great honor for Meijo University, and it goes without saying that all of our students, graduates, and faculty members are proud of this accomplishment.

Faculty of Science and Technology in Meijo University was founded in 1926 as the Nagoya Science and Technology Course. This 88-year history makes it the oldest private institute for the study of manufacturing in Chubu region. This Nobel Prize for Professor Akasaki is great news for the 180,000 graduates of the university. It is also a milestone in our history, and one that will continue to shine on for many years. I look forward to Professor Akasaki’s future exploits, and together with all the students and faculty members of Meijo University I offer my heartfelt congratulations.

October 7, 2014
Toshiharu Nakane
President, Meijo University

See the following link for more information:
Professor Isamu Akasaki Wins Nobel Prize in Physics