Dr. Tsuneyoshi Kuroiwa of the Graduate School of Science of Rikkyo University was elected to The Japan Academy on December 13, 2010.

Prof. Kuroiwa's main achievement was his discovery of mitochondrial and chloroplast division machineries. To identify all the proteins present in the organelle division machinery, he and his colleagues sequenced the nuclear cell, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of the primitive red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. The C. merolae genome was the first alga genome to be sequenced, and at present is the only eukaryotic cell for which the genome has been 100% sequenced. Furthermore, he discovered the basic mechanisms of mitochondria and chloroplast maternal inheritance. For this work, he was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal by his Majesty the Emperor, the C.R. Barnes Award by the American Society of Plant Biologists, the Green Science Prize by the Government of Japan, and the Japanese Academy Award by the Japan Academy.

Operated under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, The Japan Academy (Nippon Gakushi-in) is an organization that accords special recognition to researchers with the most eminent records of academic and scientific achievement. The Academy's primary purpose is to carry out programs that contribute to the advancement of academic pursuit.