The International Prize for Biology is an award that commemorated the 60th anniversary of the reign of Emperor Showa and his long-standing research in biology, also aiming to promote and encourage the advancement of biological sciences.  The Prize further honors the distinguished research on fish taxonomy (gobioid fishes) conducted by the Emperor Emeritus over many years, and recognizes his contributions to the development of the Prize.

The Prize was established in 1985 (Showa 60) and has since been awarded annually. Each year, a field within biology is designated, and the Prize is conferred upon a researcher—generally one per year—who has made outstanding achievements in that field and significant contributions to the advancement of science worldwide.