The Board of Directors of the Zoological Society of Japan, having deliberated and considered the results of the deliberations from the Selection Committee for the Zoological Education Award, has decided to confer the 2013 Japan Zoological Education Award upon Mr. Minoru Yajima.
Here are the reasons for selection.

Secretariat of the Zoological Society

Selection reasons for the 2013 Zoological Education Award: Mr. Minoru Yajima
Minoru Yajima was born in 1930. He is an active 83-year-old entomologist serving as the director of the Gunma Prefectural "Gunma Insect World." After graduating from Tokyo Gakugei University, he established the Insectarium at Toshimaen, and subsequently served as the Director of the Ueno Zoo Aquarium, Director of the Tama Zoological Park, and Chairman of the Tokyo Zoological Park Society, among other positions. Since 1999, he has been the director of the Gunma Prefectural "Gunma Insect World." In 1957, Yajima's concept for creating the Insectarium at Toshimaen was "to breed and exhibit insects so that the general public could view them alive and up close, rather than just as dead specimens that could only be seen in museums." Over 45 years ago, when elephants and lions were the main attractions at zoos, this was a groundbreaking idea that no one else had thought of. It is not hard to imagine that because Yajima made this a reality, there were many children who wanted to peek into the world of insects and aspire to study entomology, as well as children who came to love biology and zoology after learning how fascinating insects are. In fact, the person who nominated Dr. Yajima for the Zoology Education Award is said to have been one of those children whose eyes were opened to wildlife biology at Yajima's insectarium. Furthermore, for over 30 years as a member of the NHK radio program "Summer Vacation Children's Science Telephone Consultation Room," Yajima has continued activities to explain the mysteries of living things in a way that is easy for children to understand, tackling questions that school teachers cannot answer. On this program, rather than simply giving immediate answers to children's questions, he adopts the child's perspective and begins by carefully considering together, "What is so mysterious about the insect?" after which he devises ways to draw out an answer that the child can fully understand. In addition, Yajima has written many very accessible books for children, such as "Insects Around Tree Sap" and "The Black Migratory Locust." His work has also received high social acclaim, winning the Shogakukan Children's Publication Culture Award, the Sankei Children's Publication Culture Award, and the Riso Education Foundation Science Award.
Based on the concept that "interaction with nature, including insects, is a major pillar of human development," Mr. Yajima's ability to take action—which he has put into practice over a long period to bring this concept to life—makes him truly deserving of this Society's Zoology Education Award.