DATE2026.10.07 #Awards & Prizes

Congratulations to Professor Emeritus SOAI Kenso on receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Dean of the Graduate School of Science and Dean of the Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo
TAJIKA Eiichi

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor SOAI Kenso, Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of Science and an alumnus of the School of Science, who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in recognition of his outstanding research achievements over many years.

Professor SOAI earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Tokyo in March 1974. He subsequently entered the graduate Department of Chemistry, where he received his master’s degree in March 1976 and his doctorate in March 1979. After completing his studies, he has pursued a distinguished research career in organic synthetic chemistry, first in the United States and later at Tokyo University of Science.

Among his most celebrated achievements is the discovery of the asymmetric autocatalytic reaction now universally known as the “Soai reaction.”

Many organic molecules in nature exist in two mirror-image forms, much like our right and left hands. These two forms are known as enantiomers. Through the Soai reaction, Professor SOAI demonstrated that even an exceedingly small initial imbalance between the two enantiomers can act as a “seed” and be dramatically amplified through asymmetric autocatalysis, leading predominantly to one of the two mirror-image forms.

This remarkable discovery has provided important insight into one of the most fundamental questions in chemistry and the life sciences: why organic molecules associated with life on Earth predominantly occur as only one of two possible mirror-image forms—the question of the origin of biological homochirality. Over many years of research, Professor SOAI and his colleagues have examined an extraordinary variety of chiral substances as sources of asymmetry, demonstrating that this phenomenon is remarkably general.

We are confident that this award will make a significant contribution to the advancement of academic research and will serve as a great source of inspiration for the students and researchers who will shape the next generation.