Dr. Akito Arima, BOG Co-Chair, receives the Order of Culture

On November 3, 2010, Dr. Akito Arima was awarded the Order of Culture, Japan’s most prestigious cultural award.

BOG Co-Chair Dr. Akito Arima receives the Order of Culture

On November 3, 2010, Dr. Akito Arima, Former President of the University of Tokyo, Former Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), President and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) and Co-chair of the OIST Board of Governors, was awarded the Order of Culture, Japan’s most prestigious cultural award. Dr. Arima was handed the award by the Emperor at a ceremony that took place at the Imperial Palace.

Dr. Arima received the award for his great contribution to nuclear physics and to the promotion of the nation’s science. He has led various organizations including MEXT, the then the Science and Technology Agency, and RIKEN.

Dr. Arima has been a member of the OIST Board of Governors (BOG) since September 2002 and the BOG co-chair since December 2006, giving advice to the implementation of business conducted by OIST and playing a key role in the development of OIST. Since September 2009, Dr. Arima has also served as an Establishing Member of the OIST School Corporation, contributing to the study on the governance as well as education and research policies of the future OIST Graduate University.

Born in Osaka, Japan in 1930. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo in 1958, Dr. Arima taught at the university before serving as its president from April 1989 through March 1993. From October 1993 to May 1998, he was the President of RIKEN, and a member of the House of Councilors from July 1998 through July 2004. In July 1998, Dr. Arima assumed the post of the MEXT Minister, overseeing the ministry until October 1999. He has been Chairman of Japan Science Foundation since June 2000, Chancellor of Musashi Gakuen since April 2006, and Chairperson of Shizuoka University of Art and Culture since April 2010. Dr. Arima has been an OIST BOG member since 2002 and the BOG co-chair since December 2006. He received the Japan Academy Prize in 1993 and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 2003.