In 2009, JSPS received an endowment from Emperor Akihito on the 20^th year of his reign. Amidst a severe economic environment in Japanese society, His Majesty’s desire was to encourage and support young scientists who are working diligently to advance their studies and research. In deference to his wishes, JSPS established the Ikushi Prize program and placed it into operation in FY 2010. It functions to formally recognize outstanding doctoral students who can be expected to contribute to Japan’s future scientific advancement.

All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

Candidates must be doctoral students with outstanding academic records, who possess abundant qualities of humanity and who pursue their studies and research in an independent and vigorous manner. They must be nominated by either the president of their university or the director of an academic society to which they belong. They must be enrolled in a university doctoral program on 1 May and be under 34 years of age on 1 April of the subject fiscal year.
Overseas students enrolled in university doctoral programs in Japan are also eligible.

Selections are made by the JSPS Ikushi Prize Selection Committee established within JSPS. In making its selections, the Committee takes into consideration the results of a preliminary review of the nominees conducted by JSPS’s Research Center for Science Systems.

About 16 recipients are chosen for the Ikushi Prize each fiscal year. They receive a certificate, a medal, and a purse of 1.1 million yen.

Nominated by university presidents 93
Nominated by academic society directors 32
Total 120 (note)

Note: When the same person is nominated twice, s/he is counted as one person.