The Nobel Prize: Its History and Spirit
Keita Koyama Ph.D., Professor,
Faculty of Social Sciences, Waseda University
It was a banner Nobel year for Japan last year. It was an exceptional feat that Japanese both captured the Nobel Prize for Physics, and we also shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. The Nobel Prize, of course, is not awarded to a nation, but rather to individuals in honor of their remarkable contributions to society. The fruits of these individual scientific studies, however, transcend all geographical and physical borders to be universally shared as intellectual assets for all in the global community.
Nevertheless, many Japanese people felt a deep sense of pride about the truly laudable achievements of these scientists, their fellow citizens. The special features, extra editions, and abundant coverage in all of the mass media are evidence of the significant impact that the attainment of these venerable Nobel Prizes has had on society.
Today, there are a number of international scholarly awards other than the Nobel Prize. However, the Nobel Prize is unparalleled in terms of its infinitely higher reputation and the depth of regard with which it is held by scholars, scientists, and laypersons alike. There are no comparable awards—in science, sports, art, or any other field—by which people throughout the world accord such deep respect to laureates with a common sense of values and recognition. (212 words)
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