Dr. Hiroyuki Araki (Division of Microbial Genetics) received the Kihara Prize of the Genetics Society Japan. The Kihara Prize is the highest honor prize of the Genetics Society Japan, which is awarded to scientists who have outstanding performance in the field of genetics. The award was given to Dr. Araki in recognition of his research works on mechanism of the initiation of DNA replication in budding yeast. The Awarding Ceremony was held on the 21st of September, as part of the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Genetics Society Japan which was held on September 20th to September 22nd, 2010.   Awarding Ceremony Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2010. Venue: Hokkaido University Award: “2010 Kihara Prize of the Genetics Society Japan” Theme: “Molecular genetic studies on mechanism of the initiation of DNA replication in budding yeast” Division of Microbial Genetics Araki Laboratory

Dr. Hiromi Hirata (Motor Neural Circuit Lab.) received the 2010 Young Investigator Award of the Japan Neuroscience Society. The Awarding Ceremony was held on the 3rd of September, as part of the Neuro2010 (Joint conference of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society, the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Neurochemistry, and the 20th Annual Meeting of Japanese Neural Network Society) which was held on September 2 to September 4, 2010. The award was given in recognition of his research works on motor neural circuit in zebrafish. Awarding Ceremony Date: Friday, September 3, 2010. Venue: Kobe Portopia Hotel Award: “2010 Young Investigator Award of the Japan Neuroscience Society” Theme: “Motor development in zebrafish” Motor Neural Circuit Laboratory, H.Hirata Laboratory