The International Prize for Biology of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science has been awarded to Giacomo Rizzolatti, Emeritus Professor at the University of Parma, long-time chair of Human Physiology. The International Prize Committee, which was presided by Yoshinori Fujiyoshi, Professor Emeritus of the Tokyo Institute of Science, determined the award. Professor Rizzolatti's name is intimately associated with mirror neurons. Their discovery, which was made just over 30 years ago by the research group he led at the University of Parma, has had a significant impact on the global scientific community. The research that has resulted from this discovery has covered a wide range of disciplines, including cognition, emotion, and language. Giacomo Rizzolatti has written over 500 articles in international journals, which have been cited over 161,000 times.