Japan Honors North Americans with 24th Annual Kyoto Prizes for Lifetime Achievement

U.S. Computer Scientist, Canadian Molecular Biologist and Canadian Philosopher Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Society

KYOTO, JAPAN – Nov. 10, 2008 – The Inamori Foundation (President: Dr. Kazuo Inamori) today presented its 24th Annual Kyoto Prizes, Japan's highest private awards for lifetime achievement, to three North Americans. The prize recipients have made dramatic progress in areas promising long-term benefits to humanity, including computerized problem solving; understanding how cancer cells form and grow; and developing a more peaceful world by promoting harmony among diverse cultures.

Each Kyoto Prize laureate received a diploma, a 20-karat gold medal, and a cash gift of 50 million yen (approximately US$500,000) in recognition of lifelong contributions to society. The laureates will reconvene in San Diego, Calif. March 18 to 20, 2009, to participate in North America's eighth annual Kyoto Laureate Symposium.

The 2008 Kyoto Prize laureate in "Advanced Technology" is Dr. Richard Manning Karp, (U.S., born in 1935), a computer scientist, professor at University of California, Berkeley, and senior research scientist at the International Computer Science Institute. Dr. Karp has made fundamental contributions to the theory of "computational complexity" ― a way of categorizing problems by their degree of difficulty. His early work in establishing the Theory of NP-Completeness is now used to identify the most difficult-to-solve computing problems. He has profoundly influenced the guiding principles used to analyze and design computing algorithms, and has personally developed algorithms to solve problems far beyond the field of information science ― from optimizing networks that deliver water, gas, electricity and data, to showing the correlation between gene structures and disease.

The 2008 Kyoto Prize laureate in "Basic Sciences" is Dr. Anthony James Pawson (citizen of both Canada and UK, born in 1952), a molecular biologist, distinguished investigator at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, and professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Pawson has helped illuminate how intracellular signaling controls cellular growth and differentiation, with important implications for understanding and fighting cancer, diabetes, autoimmune system disorders and other diseases. His work in establishing one of the basic paradigms of intracellular signal transduction has significantly influenced virtually every field of biomedical research, including developmental biology, neurobiology, endocrinology, immunology, hematology, and oncology.

The 2008 Kyoto Prize laureate in "Arts and Philosophy" is Dr. Charles Margrave Taylor (Canada, born in 1931), a philosopher and professor emeritus at McGill University of Montreal. Dr. Taylor has constructed a social philosophy to promote the coexistence of diverse cultures. His philosophical viewpoint advocates multiculturalism and communitarianism from a new perspective of holistic individualism. With today's global society characterized by unprecedented levels of international travel, trade and immigration, Dr. Taylor's work points a future course for civilization by envisioning a world in which diverse, heterogeneous cultures coexist peacefully through mutual recognition.

About the Inamori Foundation
The Inamori Foundation ( www.inamori-f.or.jp / www.kyotoprize.org ) was established in 1984 by Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera and KDDI Corporation. The Kyoto Prize, founded in 1985, reflects Dr. Inamori's belief that human beings have no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of society ― and that mankind's future can be assured only through the balanced development of scientific progress and spiritual maturity. Kyoto Prize laureates are selected through a strict and impartial process that considers candidates from around the world. As of November 10, 2008, the Kyoto Prize has been awarded to 77 individuals and one group. The laureates represent 13 nationalities, and include scientists, engineers, researchers, philosophers, painters, architects, sculptors, musicians and film directors. The U.S. has produced the most recipients (33), followed by Japan (12), the UK (nine), and France (seven).