As part of its efforts to promote diversity, the Japan Science and Technology Agency established the "Shining Female Researcher Award (Jun Ashida Award)" to recognize female researchers who are conducting excellent research that contributes to a sustainable society and future, and the institutions that promote their activities. This year's winners were selected and the award ceremony was held at the Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. The Ashida Fund, established in 1994 with the aim of nurturing young people, supports and endorses this aim.

The second "Shining Female Researcher Award (Jun Ashida Award)" was awarded to Ms. Nami Sakai at the RIKEN in recognition of her groundbreaking research, which tackled the fundamental question of astronomy, "To what extent are environments like the solar system common in the universe?" and led to the elucidation of the origin of various extrasolar planetary systems and the formation of planetary systems. She was also awarded a prize of 1 million yen from the Ashida Fund.

In addition, the "Shining Female Researcher Award (Japan Science and Technology Agency President's Award)" was awarded to Ayuko Hoshino in recognition of her pioneering work in the world in elucidating that exosomes (extracellular vesicles) released by cancer cells are involved in the mechanism of preparing the environment of the metastasis site in a tissue-specific manner, leading to innovative results that will lead to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer metastasis. The National University Corporation Gunma University (President Hiroshi Hiratsuka) was awarded the Institution for Promoting Women's Participation.

Photo: From left: Nami Sakai, Tae Ashida, Ayuko Hoshino