This year's two Japanese Nobel Prize winners spoke at separate venues in Stockholm ahead of Wednesday's Nobel Prize award ceremony.
Sakaguchi Shimon, a distinguished honorary professor of the University of Osaka, is one of the three winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He gave a lecture at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm on Sunday.
Sakaguchi used slides to illustrate how he confirmed the existence of regulatory T cells through experiments using mice. He was focusing on autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system overreacts and harms the body instead of protecting it.
Sakaguchi said that by boosting the functions of regulatory T cells, they could be put to use in treating allergies and immune disorders, as well as in organ transplants. He also said that by suppressing the functions, the cells could be applied to boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy for cancer patients and to improve the effects of vaccines.
He wrapped up his lecture by thanking his wife, who is also his research partner, colleagues, and his university students. He also expressed gratitude to people in Japan and the United States who funded and contributed to his research.
The audience of over 1,000 gave him a warm round of applause. A student who studies life science said that regulatory T cells are revolutionary and have the potential to help humanity. The student was hopeful that research will continue and be applied to a variety of treatments such as cancer.
Earlier on Sunday, another Japanese laureate, Kitagawa Susumu, an executive vice-president and distinguished professor of Kyoto University, addressed a news conference hosted by the Nobel Foundation. He was one of three scientists to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating molecular constructions, called metal-organic frameworks.
Kitagawa took a question from the media on whether a country that does not invest in basic research will be able to achieve economic growth.
Kitagawa explained Japan's research support system and said that it takes about 25 years for basic research to be put to practical use. He noted that long-term funding is necessary, but that the government often cannot wait that long. He said he has repeatedly called on the Japanese government to increase funding for basic research.
The Nobel Prize Museum began displaying items related to laureates on Sunday. Sakaguchi, Kitagawa and others have each signed a chair at the museum's cafe. It is also a tradition for the laureates to contribute an item related to their research.

Quiz 1:
Who gave a lecture at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm on Sunday?
A. Sakaguchi Shimon
B. Kitagawa Susumu
C. A Nobel Prize winner from another year
D. A student who studies life science

Quiz 2:
For which field did Sakaguchi Shimon win the Nobel Prize?
A. Physics
B. Chemistry
C. Literature
D. Peace

Quiz 3:
What kind of diseases was Sakaguchi focusing on in his research?
A. Cardiovascular diseases
B. Neurological diseases
C. Autoimmune diseases
D. Infectious diseases

[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: A
Quiz 2: A
Quiz 3: C