New Armenian stamp depicts Japanese scientist Yoshiaki Hagiwara

A postcard and a special envelope with a stamp dedicated to the State Award of the Republic of Armenia for Global Contribution to High Technologies were officially put into circulation on May 13, 2025.

The postcard’s stamp, with a nominal value of AMD 400, depicts the gold medal awarded to the laureates. The postcard itself features Adobe President and CEO Shantanu Narayen, the 2022 laureate; Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, the 2023 laureate; and Japanese scientist, President of LOCOMTEC AIPS Laboratory, Yoshiaki Damon Hagiwara, the 2024 laureate.

The special envelope features the 15th laureate of the State Award, Yoshiaki Damon Hagiwara, and also includes a two-stamp postcard issued in 2024 dedicated to the same theme.

During the ceremony, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Arayik Harutyunyan, expressed satisfaction that “once again, another giant of the technological sphere, Yoshiaki Hagiwara, is being honored in the Republic of Armenia as the laureate of the state award.”

“This award in the field of IT has been referred to as the ‘Oscar’ of the industry. The individuals who receive this award are appreciated by the Republic of Armenia, and they establish a connection with our country. We are grateful to Mr. Hagiwara for visiting Armenia and receiving this award,” Harutyunyan said.

Armenian Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, stated that the stamp's theme honors “three giants” who have made exceptional contributions to the global technological field.

“With this issue, we once again express our gratitude to these giants whose work has had a profound impact on global science and technology,” the minister said, adding that the Armenian government’s vision of making Armenia a major global high-tech hub is becoming a reality.

Minister Hayrapetyan also shared his personal impressions of Mr. Hagiwara, saying, “Even in just half an hour of conversation, I discovered a very modest man with a remarkable human nature. I am truly enchanted by his personality. On the world map, Armenia is now another country where Mr. Hagiwara is loved and will always be welcomed.”

In response, Yoshiaki Damon Hagiwara expressed his appreciation for the honor and noted that even at his respectable age he is pleased to still be able to contribute.

“I mainly work with young people in educational programs because they are our future. I am grateful to my teacher, Mokimoto San, who was the founder of semiconductor development in Japan. At first, I only wanted to make toys using semiconductors, but it turned out that the entire world economy is now based on them.

Science knows no borders. We collaborate even with countries involved in conflicts, because we believe that science and its achievements can help bring peace. It is our duty to make the Earth more prosperous, beautiful, clean, and safe for future generations,” Hagiwara said.

President of the Armenian Philatelists Association, Hovik Musayelyan, emphasized that May 13 is also a historic day for Armenian philately, with the issuance of an exceptionally important stamp.

“Due to Covid-19, we had to skip one year of award ceremonies, but in October 2025, the 16th laureate will be announced and presented with this year’s State Award. While some of our neighboring countries are engaged in falsifying philatelic history, Armenia’s national philately is committed to presenting our historical and cultural values, our identity, and our vision for the future,” he noted.

“This ceremony is a vivid example of that mission. Our second laureate, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, remarked during the award ceremony that there is no Nobel Prize in the field of IT, so he accepted Armenia’s award as the equivalent of a Nobel Prize. Since then, the ceremony has taken on symbolic significance,” Musayelyan added.