The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2026 Japan Prize on January 21, 2026. Prof. Cynthia Dwork (USA) has received the Japan Prize in the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication. Prof. Shizuo Akira (Japan) and Prof. Zhijian "James" Chen (USA) have received the Japan Prize in the field of Life Sciences.
- Field Eligible for the Award: Electronics, Information, and Communication
For this year's Japan Prize, Prof. Dwork is being recognized for her contribution to leading research for building an ethical digital society, including differential privacy and fairness. Prof. Akira and Prof. Chen are being honored for their discovery of the nucleic acid sensing mechanism by the innate immune system.
For the 2026 Japan Prize, the Foundation asked approximately 16,000 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world to nominate researchers working in this year's eligible fields. The Foundation received 107 nominations for the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication, and 185 nominations for the field of Life Sciences. This year's winners were selected from a total of 292 nominees.
About the Japan Prize
The establishment of the Japan Prize in 1981 was motivated by the Japanese government's desire to create an internationally recognized award that would contribute to scientific and technological development around the world. With the support of numerous donations, the Japan Prize Foundation received endorsement from the Cabinet Office in 1983.
The Japan Prize is awarded to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made creative and dramatic achievements that help progress their fields and contribute significantly to realizing peace and prosperity for all humanity. Researchers in all fields of science and technology are eligible for the award, with two fields selected each year in consideration of current trends in scientific and technological development. In principle, one individual in each field is recognized with the award, and receives a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize. Each presentation ceremony is attended by the reigning Emperor and Empress, heads of the three branches of government and other related officials, and representatives from various other elements of society.
นวัตกรรมนี้ไม่เพียงช่วยแก้ไขปัญหาสิ่งแวดล้อม แต่ยังสร้างมูลค่าเพิ่มทางเศรษฐกิจ หนุนเศรษฐกิจชุมชนและส่งเสริมซอฟต์พาวเวอร์ (Soft Power) ของไทยไปสู่เวทีโลกด้วย จนได้รับรางวัลดีเด่นการประกวดผลงานนวัตกรรมสายอุดมศึกษาประจำปี 2567 ด้านพลังงาน สิ่งแวดล้อม เทคโนโลยี และ BCG Economy Model ในงานมหกรรมงานวิจัยแห่งชาติ 2567 และได้รับรางวัล Excellence Award ในงาน The 24th International FABI Fashion Exhibition 2024 จาก Korean Society of Fashion Business ประเทศเกาหลีใต้ รวมถึงยังได้รับทุนสนับสนุนต่อยอดวิทยานิพนธ์ปริญญาเอกในการขยายฐานการผลิตเส้นใยและผืนผ้าทอฯ ในทุน Innovation to Business จากสำนักงานการวิจัยแห่งชาติ (วช.)
การผสานระหว่างความเชื่อเรื่องมงคลกับความรับผิดชอบต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมนี้ทำให้ผลิตภัณฑ์จากเส้นใยทุเรียนตอบโจทย์ความต้องการของกลุ่มลูกค้า Gen Y ได้อย่างลงตัว ซึ่งเมื่อนำผลิตภัณฑ์ลงสู่ตลาดจริงผ่านการทดสอบออกบูธ ก็ได้ผลตอบรับที่เกินความคาดหมาย ผู้บริโภคให้ความสนใจและกระแสตอบรับเป็นอย่างดี สะท้อนให้เห็นว่ากลุ่มตลาดเป้าหมายที่กำหนดไว้ตั้งแต่ต้นนั้นถูกต้องและตรงกับความต้องการที่แท้จริงของผู้บริโภค
A doctoral graduate from Chulalongkorn University has developed Thailand’s first woven fiber made from discarded durian peels, transforming one of the country’s largest agricultural waste streams into high-value, sustainable fashion materials with global potential.
Dr. Usa Prachakul, a doctoral graduate from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University (Creative Arts – Fashion and Textiles), the creator of “Circular Textile Innovation from Durian Peel Waste to Anti-bacterial Clothing converts durian peel waste into textile fibers that offer higher breathability than pure silk and near-100 percent antibacterial properties. The material has been used to create fashion and lifestyle items under the brand MUW, which blends natural materials, art, and spiritual beliefs. The research received the Outstanding Award at the 2024 Thailand Research Expo, underscoring its scientific and commercial promise.
Dr. Usa Prachakul, a doctoral graduate from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University (Creative Arts – Fashion and Textiles)
Thailand is the world’s largest producer of durian, with exports of fresh and processed products rising sharply in recent years—by nearly 488 percent. This growth, however, has intensified environmental pressures. Data from 2017 to 2021 show that durian peels generate about 146 million kilograms of waste annually, a figure that continues to increase. Most of this waste is currently disposed of through landfilling or open burning, practices that impose costs on farmers while contributing to pollution and long-term health risks for surrounding communities.
Seeking alternatives to burning and burial, the researcher focused on extracting value from durian peels through material science and sustainable design. The resulting fiber not only reduces waste but also offers functional advantages over conventional textiles, including natural antibacterial qualities and enhanced comfort, without relying on chemical treatments.
Beyond technical performance, the project aims to support Thailand’s soft power strategy by positioning sustainable Thai innovation on the global stage. By turning an abundant local by-product into premium fashion materials, the work connects environmental stewardship with creative industries and economic development.
The researcher said the project demonstrates how agricultural waste can be reimagined as a resource rather than a liability. By integrating scientific research with design and cultural storytelling, the durian-peel fiber shows potential for scaling up production, generating new income streams, and reducing the environmental footprint of Thailand’s booming durian industry.
As global demand grows for eco-friendly materials and circular-economy solutions, the durian-peel fiber highlights how locally grounded research can address environmental challenges while creating distinctive products for international markets.
“Chulalongkorn University sets the standard as a university ofinnovations for society and is listed in the World’s Top 100 Universities for Academic Reputation, in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2021-2022.”
Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi ประกาศเปิดตัวโครงการทุนการศึกษาประจำปี 2026 พร้อมทั้งจัดงาน Open House เพื่อเชิญชวนครอบครัวที่สนใจมาสัมผัสประสบการณ์โรงเรียนนานาชาติหลักสูตรอังกฤษชั้นนำในกรุงเทพฯ ที่ผสมผสานความเป็นเลิศทางวิชาการเข้ากับการปลูกฝังคุณธรรม ความมั่นใจ และความใฝ่รู้
เปิดรับสมัครผู้สมัครภายนอกที่กำลังศึกษาอยู่ในระดับ Year 9 (เข้าหลักสูตร IGCSE) และ Year 11 (เข้าหลักสูตร A Level) การพิจารณาทุนจะอิงจากผลการประเมินในวัน Scholarship Day วันเสาร์ที่ 21 มีนาคม 2026 ผู้ที่ได้รับทุนจะได้รับการยกเว้นค่าเล่าเรียนตั้งแต่ 5%–40%
Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi ขอเชิญครอบครัวที่สนใจเข้าร่วมงาน Open House เพื่อสัมผัสบรรยากาศการเรียนรู้ที่มีชีวิตชีวา ผู้เข้าร่วมงานจะได้เยี่ยมชมสิ่งอำนวยความสะดวกที่ทันสมัย พบปะครูผู้สอนที่มีความเป็นเลิศ และค้นพบแนวทางของโรงเรียนในการส่งเสริมนักเรียนทุกคนให้เป็นผู้ที่มั่นใจ ใฝ่รู้ และมีเมตตา
Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi is delighted to launch its 2026 Scholarship Programme alongside a series of Open House events, inviting prospective families to discovera leading British international school in Bangkok, where academic excellence goes hand in hand with kindness, confidence and curiosity.
2026 Scholarship Programme
Brighton College Bangkok Vibhavadi is now accepting applications for Academic, Music, and Sports Scholarships, each designed to recognise and support exceptional talent and potential.
Academic Scholarships
Open to external applicants currently in Year 9 (IGCSE entry) and Year 11 (A Level entry), scholarships are awarded based on performance during Scholarship Day on Saturday, 21st March 2026. Successful candidates may receive between 5%–40% tuition fee remission.
Available to pupils from Year 4 to Year 11, with 2 awards per stage (Upper Key Stage 2 – Key Stage 5). Applicants must demonstrate musical excellence supported by ABRSM, Trinity or equivalent certifications.
All scholarship assessments take place on Saturday, 21st March 2026 by invitation only.
Open House Events
Families are warmly invited to experience our vibrant learning community through a series of Open House mornings. Attendees will tour our state-of-the-art facilities, meet our exceptional teachers, and discover how we nurture every pupil to be confident, curious, and kind.
Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism
The professional-category finals of the first "Discover Shanghai" Tourism Guide Super Competition, organized by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, concluded on January 8, drawing widespread attention from both industry observers and the public.
From 640 entries submitted through district-level recommendations, 150 guides were shortlisted for the finals.
Each finalist delivered an on-site presentation of about five minutes, introducing their guide, explaining the creative process behind it and outlining its practical applications.
Following online voting and expert panel evaluation, the competition produced 50 winners across first, second, and third prizes, along with 50 special-category awardees.
Many of the winning guides are already being developed into tourism products, enabling residents and visitors to tour Shanghai according to the guides during the Spring Festival.
Industry observers see the competition as a key platform for professional tourism content creators in Shanghai to demonstrate innovation and expertise. It also serves as a concentrated showcase of the city's cultural and tourism resources as travel demand builds ahead of the Spring Festival holiday.
As standout entries in the professional-category competition, the shortlisted finalists creatively connect Shanghai's urban spaces and neighborhoods, presenting a layered view of the city that highlights both its cosmopolitan character and everyday life.
The guides present Shanghai as an accessible and experience-driven modern metropolis, with three main features emerging.
First, frontline tourism professionals have become the primary drivers of content creation. More than 80 percent of the 150 shortlisted guides were produced by practitioners from travel agencies, hotels, museums and cultural institutions.
Drawing on hands-on experience, these creators present Shanghai through an experience-driven and professional lens, offering insights that go beyond standard sightseeing recommendations.
Second, Spring Festival-themed routes tailored to the Year of the Horse have attracted significant attention.
These guides feature zodiac lantern fairs, traditional pastry-making activities and explorations of historic neighborhoods, combining interactive design with modern storytelling to reintroduce festive traditions to contemporary audiences.
Third, personalized travel themes stand out prominently in this year's finals. Entries focusing on women-oriented travel, pet-friendly routes and suburban cycling tours respond to growing demand for niche, slow-paced and customized travel experiences.
As the finals continue, the competition is further amplifying Shanghai's tourism image ahead of the Spring Festival travel peak. Several guides are seen as having strong potential to become widely used references for both domestic and international visitors.
Source: Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism
- Showing World NX Group's "will toward the future" Manifested in Its Support for Evolution in Semiconductor and Automotive Industries -
NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC. has released a new global brand movie titled "Moving India Forward" that focuses on the rapidly growing Indian market. The movie is available on the company's website as of January 15 and is now being broadcast on global media.
Scene from new brand movie "Moving India Forward": https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FDdorvqKqluJcAeh2RzTwjkfl_0xIDKQ/view?usp=drive_link
- Background to production: India as a global powerhouse
India is quickly emerging as a new global economic powerhouse, and the NX Group regards the Indian market as the most critical base to realize its long-term vision of becoming "a logistics company with a strong presence in the global market."
The movie illustrates how the NX Group has transcended the bounds of a simple logistics company to operate as a dynamic "strategic partner" in driving the evolution of social infrastructure within the convergence of tradition and innovation that is modern India.
- Highlights of the new brand movie
1. Logistics supporting the evolution of Indian industry India's industrial structure is making brisk advances, propelled by the rise of the semiconductor industry and the expansion of e-commerce. The movie showcases how the NX Group's global quality -- encompassing precision equipment handling and smart logistics -- underpins the evolution of India's industries.
2. Rail transport: lifeline of the automotive industry The movie dynamically depicts the rail transport connecting the Group's vast network across India and stresses the Group's commitment to strengthening the automotive industry's supply chains by supplementing truck transport with the use of diverse transport modes to accomplish low-environmental-impact modal shifts.
3. The spirit of "We Find the Way" While contrasting India's vibrant landscapes with the NX Group's sophisticated logistics solutions, the movie powerfully presents the corporate message "We Find the Way" as an expression of the Group's determination to find solutions to all challenges, no matter how difficult.
The new brand movie is available in three languages: English, Japanese and Chinese. Anyone can watch it on the company's official website as well as on its official YouTube and LinkedIn accounts. It will also be broadcast worldwide through CNN programs and commercials. Please take a look.
The NX Group will continue connecting people, businesses and communities through logistics and contributing to global social development to realize its customers' aspirations for a new future.
Overview of "Moving India Forward" Title: "Moving India Forward" Release date: January 15, 2026 Formats: Full-length (1 minute), short-form (15 seconds) Available languages: English, Japanese, Chinese Publicly accessible media: Official website: https://www.nipponexpress-holdings.com/en/?_langEN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nittsu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/
About the NX Group: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mbvBL6C8THZNrR5LREgGeafNkEdaAmV-/view?usp=drive_link
NX Group official website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/ NX Group's official LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/
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