This Prize has previously been awarded to individuals with academic abilities of which Japan is extremely proud (Prof. NAKANE Chie, Prof. TAKEUCHI Minoru, Prof. ISHII Yoneo, Prof. KARASHIMA Noboru, Prof. ETO Shinkichi, Prof. OBAYASHI Taryo, Prof. HAMASHITA Takeshi, and Prof. SUEHIRO Akira), global scholars in the field of Asian regional studies (Prof. Clifford GEERTZ, Prof. WANG Zhongshu, Prof. Ezra F. VOGEL, Prof. FEI Xiaotong and Prof. B. ANDERSON) and people whom I respect tremendously. I was extremely honored to be awarded the Prize alongside Professor James C. SCOTT in 2010 for the 21st Fukuoka Prize, and I feel the weight of this privilege.

In 2020, the disaster called COVID-19 has covered the whole world. If the epidemic itself travels beyond national borders and natural barriers, the science for containing the epidemic must overcome them too. I hope the scientific network within Asia, Eurasia, USA and Africa will create a vaccine and the silver bullet for the virus so that the Award Ceremony of the 31st Fukuoka Prize can be held.