The 46th Honda Prize Ceremony: Celebrating Dr. Kenichi Iga's Innovation in Optoelectronics

On November 17, 2025, the Honda Foundation held the 46th Honda Prize award ceremony at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo, honoring Dr. Kenichi Iga, an honorary professor at Tokyo Science University, for his pivotal contributions to the field of optoelectronics, particularly through his development of surface-emitting lasers. The Honda Prize, established in 1980 by the founders Soichiro Honda and his brother Benjiro Honda, recognizes groundbreaking research that contributes to a civilization rich in humanity.

The ceremony commenced with greetings from Hiroto Ishida, chairman of the Honda Foundation, who expressed the foundation's commitment to advocating for ecotechnology, which emphasizes harmony between technological advancement and the natural and human environment. Dr. Iga's innovation of the surface-emitting laser has become integral to daily life, enhancing high-speed data communication and enabling facial recognition technology in smartphones, thereby profoundly affecting societal infrastructure.

Uchida Hiroyuki, the chairman of the Honda Prize Selection Committee, detailed the rigorous selection process, which involved approximately 260 nominees worldwide. It underscored the foundation's criteria: achievements must extend beyond mere invention or discovery to include substantial contributions to improving people's lives globally.

The surface-emitting laser, characterized by its vertical structure versus conventional laser designs, has demonstrated exceptional qualities such as compactness, power efficiency, and high-speed operation. Dr. Iga pioneered its development, establishing new research fields that have facilitated advancements in optoelectronics and information societies.

Following the presentations, Dr. Iga received the award certificate from Chairman Ishida, while Vice Chairman Kazuko Matsumoto presented the medal. Mr. Naoto Otake, Chairman of Tokyo Science University, where Dr. Iga once served as president, commended Dr. Iga for his contributions both as a scientist and educator, expressing the university's aspiration to cultivate future winners of the prestigious Honda Prize.

Seiji Kurai, a special advisor at Honda Motor Co., shared reflections on the deep connections between mobility and the surface-emitting laser technology. With advancements like electric vehicles and autonomous driving, the demand for data processing has soared, making Dr. Iga's work increasingly vital.

In his commemorative lecture titled “Surface Emitting Semiconductor Lasers: Born Small, Growing Large - From Smartphones to the Heart of Data Centers,” Dr. Iga shared personal anecdotes from his childhood that sparked his interest in electronics, emphasizing the significance of education and perseverance in his research journey.

He remarked,