１　日時　　2019年5月25日（土）午後4時30分～午後7時00分

２　場所　　Stanford University

当センターでは、上記の通り日本人研究者交流会を開催いたしました。

本交流会は、米国において活躍されている日本人研究者の方々の分野を越えた交流を促進し、情報交換や友好を深めていくことを通じて、研究活動をより一層充実させていただくことを目的に開催しております。今回はオフィス所在地のバークレーを離れ、スタンフォード大学にて開催し、JSPS特別研究員の方など総勢約30名の方にご出席いただきました。

今回は、スタンフォード大学医学部教授 / 睡眠生体リズム研究所所長の西野精治氏より「スタンフォード式最高の睡眠（熟睡の習慣）」というタイトルでご講演いただきました。講演会では、科学的実証データや理論を用いながら睡眠という身近なテーマを掘り下げ、医学的な見地から熟睡の習慣について大変興味深いお話があり、参加者は熱心に講演に聞き入っていました。また、質疑応答の時間では、日頃から感じている素朴な疑問から、アカデミックなものまで多くの質問がなされました。西野先生の穏やかな人柄も手伝い、会場は終始和やかな雰囲気で、盛況のうちに会は終了しました。講演終了後、希望者を対象に、西野先生のラボの小野先生より動物施設を案内して頂きました。

懇親会は研究分野を超えた意見交換、交流、ネットワークづくりの場として活用され、大変有意義な会となりました。

次回のJSPS日本人研究者交流会（2019年度夏）は2019年8月10日にバークレーにて開催予定です。

（西野精治氏による講演）

（集合写真）

When the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan regained the power led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in December 2012, Japan’s government embarked on a set of economic policies dubbed “Abenomics.” These policies aimed at ending Japan’s economic stagnation and restoring growth.  As the Abe administration enters its 7th year the prime minister looks likely to become the longest serving head of state in the post war era.  Abenomics also seems have achieved some degree of success.  The economy has enjoyed its longest phase of expansion in the post war era.  The unemployment is at a record low with many employers claiming they can’t find enough workers.  However Abenomics has yet to achieve its stated goals of 2% inflation rate and 2% real growth. Can Abenomic really be considered a success?

To discuss these issues, JSPS San Francisco (JSPS) and Stanford University’s Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) held a joint symposium titled “The Political Economy of Japan under the Abe Government” at Stanford University on March 1 and 2.

This was the second year in a row that this symposium was held. About 25 scholars from various parts of the US and Japan joined us to present and discuss papers that address the political economy of the Abe government and assess its long-term implications for Japan.

The conference focused on three themes: (1) what economic policies did the Abe government seek to implement, and to what extent have the objectives been achieved; (2) the implications of the Abe government on longstanding debates about Japanese politics; and (3) Abe’s foreign policy and its implications for the broader region. The papers presented at this event will be edited into a conference volume that should be published by 2020.

JSPS San Francisco will continue to support events like this that strengthen global academic exchange.

For more information about JSPS San Francisco Office, please contact us: webmaster@jspsusa-sf.org or visit our website: http://www.jspsusa-sf.org/index.php

JSPSサンフランシスコ研究連絡センターでは、昨年に引き続きスタンフォード大学との共催シンポジウム “The Political Economy of Japan under the Abe”（安倍政権における日本の政治経済学） を2019年3月1日-2日に開催しました。

On January 24 and 25, JSPS San Francisco (JSPS SF) held the symposium, “World Premier Research in Japan” at University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University. This event commemorated JSPS SF’s 15^th anniversary while also highlighting Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s (MEXT) World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI).

Since its establishment in 2003, JSPS SF has been supporting exchange between Japanese and American researcher communities. This includes holding various academic symposia and acting as a hub for the West Coast offices of many Japanese universities and their networking activities. With the recent emphasis on interdisciplinary research and research at scale, the exchange of ideas and brainpower between institutions and countries is now more essential than ever. Throughout its 15-year history, JSPS SF has strived to provoke creativity and innovation with its symposia. These events also provide US-based researchers with opportunities to network and strengthen ties with scholars from Japan (JSPS SF 15^th Anniversary milestones (co-organaized symposia in the US)).

In celebration of JSPS SF’s 15^th anniversary, four WPI Centers (Kavli IPMU, AIMR, I²CNER and ITbM), presented some of their research to audiences at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. The WPI Centers are examples of highly internationalized research institutions with best–in-class research achievements. The two-day event had a total of 110 attendees, including researchers, students and individuals from the private sector.

Following JSPS Governing Director Mr. Noriyoshi Masuko and JSPS SF Director Dr. Toru Tamiya’s opening remarks, Consul-General of Japan in San Francisco Mr. Tomochika Uyama, Director of the US-Asia Technology Management Center at Stanford University Dr. Richard Dasher (A WPI’s Program Committee member since 2007) and  President of JUNBA (Japanese University Network in the Bay Area) Mr. Tomohisa Koyama gave congratulatory addresses. Dr. Dasher emphasized the competitive selection process under which the WPI centers were established and how these institutes empower young researchers starting out in their careers.

The presentations from the WPI centers covered a wide variety of fields such as astrophysics, materials science, energy and biology. The WPI Directors introduced their centers while other representatives from the centers introduced some of their research. In addition to introducing their impressive achievements, the institutes elaborated on their internationalized research environments and efforts to strengthen interdisciplinary research. Presentations were made by Kavli IPMU’s Dr. Hitoshi Murayama (Founding Director) and Dr. Khee-Gan Lee (Project Assistant Professor), AIMR’s Dr. Motoko Kotani (Director) and Dr. Tomoteru Fukumura (Professor), I²CNER’s Dr. Petros Sofronis (Director) and Dr. Toshinori Matsushima (Associate Professor), and ITbM’s Dr. Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, (Administrative Director) and Dr. Naoyuki Uchida (Designated Associate Professor) . Their presentations covered topics such as collaboration with universities and researchers in the US, the creation of new materials, technology transfer, and practical applications to the medical and agricultural fields. They drew a sizable audience from Silicon Valley and the larger San Francisco Bay Area who enjoyed expanding their networks during the Q&A sessions and networking receptions.

JSPS SF would like to thank the four participating WPI Centers, the Center for Japanese Studies, UC Berkeley, the US-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University, Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) San Francisco Office and JUNBA, without whom this symposium would not have been possible.

——————-

日時：2019年1月24-25日（木-金）13:30-19:00
場所：

1月24日：International House, Ida & Robert Sproul, University of California, Berkeley (2299 Piedmont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94720)

1月25日：Paul G. Allen Building, 101X Auditorium, Stanford University (330 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305)

後援・協力：Center for Japanese Studies, University of California, Berkeley

US-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University

在サンフランシスコ日本国総領事館

（独）日本貿易振興機構（JETRO）サンフランシスコ事務所

サンフランシスコ・ベイエリア大学間連携ネットワーク（JUNBA）

世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム（WPIプログラム）

サンフランシスコ研究連絡センターでは、センター設立15周年を記念し、世界トップレベル研究拠点プログラム（WPI）の協力の下、カリフォルニア大学バークレー校及びスタンフォード大学においてJSPS SF 15^th Anniversary Event「World Premier Research in Japan」を開催しました。

サンフランシスコ研究連絡センターは、2003年の設立以来、日本の大学の米国西海岸拠点ネットワークの事務局としてその活動を支援しながら、日米の学術交流・学術研究発展のために様々な学術イベントを企画、実施してきました。近年では、分野横断的な融合研究が重視されるようになり、国内外の研究機関が連携し、研究者交流や共同研究を推し進めていくことがこれまで以上に不可欠となっています。当センターは、設立以来15年間で主催・共催した多数の学術シンポジウムを通じ、米国を拠点とする研究者と日本の研究者とのネットワーク構築、関係強化の手助けをするとともに、新たなアイディアを呼び起こす触媒的な役割を担ってきました（JSPS SFにおける15年間の主な共催シンポジウム）。

今回のシンポジウムでは、日本で最も国際化が進み、かつ、高い研究成果を挙げている代表例であるWPI拠点から4拠点（Kavli IPMU、AIMR、I²CNER、ITbM）を御招きして講演をいただきました。当日は、研究者、学生、企業関係者を含め２日間で計110名の皆様に参加いただきました。

WPI拠点からの講演は、天文物理、材料科学、エネルギー、生物学など幅広い研究分野にわたっており、各拠点の世界的に卓越した研究成果や国際化された研究環境、融合研究の紹介に加え、主任研究者や若手研究者から実際の研究内容を紹介いただきました。Kavli IPMUからは村山斉初代拠点長とKhee-Gan Lee特任講師、AIMRからは小谷元子拠点長と福村知昭教授、I²CNERからはペトロス・ソフロニス拠点長と松島敏則准教授、ITbMからは松本剛事務部門長と打田直行特任准教授から講演いただきました。

講演では、米国大学・研究者との連携や、新材料研究、企業への技術移転、医療や農業への活用等についてもお話があり、シリコンバレーにも近いベイエリアにおいて多くの参加者の関心を集めるとともに、講演後のQ&A及びネットワークレセプションにおいて参加者との交流を深めました。
最後になりますが、この場をお借りして、ご来場の皆様、WPI拠点の皆様、ご後援・ご協力いただいたCenter for Japanese Studies, University of California, Berkeley、US-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University、在サンフランシスコ日本国総領事館、（独）日本貿易振興機構（JETRO）サンフランシスコ事務所、サンフランシスコ・ベイエリア大学間連携ネットワーク（JUNBA）に改めて厚くお礼を申し上げます。

Technology has the potential to greatly improve access and allow for the full participation of disabled individuals in society. Both Japan and the US have invested considerable sums in this effort, but often research is conducted apart from key stakeholders.

To discuss these issues, JSPS San Francisco (JSPS) and the Center for Japanese Studies (CJS) at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) held a joint symposium titled “Crip Tech: Disability, Technology, Architecture, and Design in Japan and the US” at the David Brower Center in Berkeley on December 7 and December 8.

This symposium brought technologists, anthropologists, engineers, activists, educators, and other researchers working at the nexus of technology, access, and design together for a two-day symposium in Berkeley, the home of the independent living movement. The majority of the participants identify as disabled people.

The symposium started with opening remarks from Dana Buntrock, Chair of CJS. Toru Tamiya, Director of JSPS SF, also gave some context and background to the theme presented by Dr. Karen Nakamura, the organizing chair from UCB.

Each speaker gave a 20 minute presentation on their current research. Afterwards the speakers took comments and questions from the audience. The symposium also included a screening of two documentary movies, “Deej” and “Fixed”. The director and casts of these films then participated in a panel discussion on its production.

Finally, Dr. Karen Nakamura, the organizing chair of the symposium, presented the “CripTech Manifesto version 0.1” arguing that the “CripTech movement” needs to be inclusive and take a holistic view of disability.  Dr. Nakamura drew attention to three specific concepts relating to the event’s theme:

1. One needs to understand disability’s intersections with poverty, gender, sexuality racialized minoritization, access to healthcare and housing along with the effects of trauma, war, and dislocation
2. No one can understand or speak for all disabilities and no one can understand or speak for all variations of their own disability.
3. We cannot deem some disabilities “bad” that are not discussed (addiction and fatness being two examples of marginalized groups within the disabled community).

The symposium was a successful collaboration between the research communities in Japan and the US and bodes well for the potential future joint efforts in this exciting and important field.

JSPS, San Francisco will continue to support such symposia while maintaining its close relationship with UCB and CJS.

JSPSサンフランシスコ研究連絡センターでは、カリフォルニア大学バークレー校日本研究センターとの共催シンポジウム “Crip Tech: Disability, Technology, Architecture, and Design in Japan and the US”を2018年12月7日(金)、12 月8日（土）に開催しました。

日本の学術情報の発信、日本の大学の国際化支援、若手研究者への国際研鑽機会の充実を目的に当センターではシンポジウムを年数回開催しています

今回のシンポジウムについてカリフォルニア大学バークレ校教授の中村カレン氏が中心となり、障がい者支援に携わる日米の学者、技術者、研究者、活動家、及び当事者を招聘し障がい者支援に関する研究、社会実践等についての情報提供が行われ、日米の障がい者支援についての理解を深めることを目的に開催されました。ご参加ご協力をいただき誠にありがとうございました。

On November 15 and 16, JSPS and UCLA cosponsored the symposium, “Harnessing Physical Forces for Medical Applications” in cooperation with Kyoto University, the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), the David Geffen School of Medicine, and the Office of Interdisciplinary & Cross Campus Affairs (ICCA).

The symposium brought researchers from both Japan and the U.S. to present their research and promote academic exchanges between the two countries. During the two day symposium participants discussed the convergence of physical sciences, nanomaterials, the nanobio interface and biomedical sciences. Dr. Fuyuhiko Tamanoi (UCLA/Kyoto University), the organizing chair, said the purpose of this symposium was to bring together scientists from diverse fields to discuss critical issues and translational potential while furthering cross pollination between disciplines.

The symposium covered some of the following topics:

• Physical forces: beams, particles, light, magnetic field, and sound.
• Physical forces and cancer therapy: boron neutron capture therapy, and monochromatic X-ray radiation.
• Imaging: MRI, PET, single molecule imaging, and cryoEM.
• Nanomaterials: Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials.
• How Physical force is used in biology: contractile nanotube system, and cell surface and membrane.
• How cells and organs interface with nanomaterials.
• New industry and commercial development: innovation, and medical instrumentation.

Throughout the two day event presenters took a variety of comments and questions. Hopefully the experience will provide researchers with food for thought and help inspire the future development of their research field going forward. JSPS will continue to support such academic symposia that helps strengthen international cooperative networks.

• About Event

Since its establishment in 2003, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science’s San Francisco Office (JSPS SF: http://www.jspsusa-sf.org/index.php) has been supporting exchange between the Japanese and American researcher communities while acting as a hub for Japanese universities’ West Coast offices and their networking activities. This 15th anniversary event is to highlight the achievements of the international research centers established by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI). These globally visible research centers focus on a wide range of fields such as energy, chemistry, plant biology and astrophysics. This 15th anniversary event goes for two days. The program will be followed by networking receptions at the end of each day.

This event is FREE and open to the public. To register, click here

• Date & Venue

Day 1
Thursday, 24 January 2019 | 1:30 pm – 7:00 pm
International House, University of California, Berkeley
2299 Piedmont Avenue Berkeley, CA 94720

Day 2
Friday, 25 January 2019 | 1:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Paul G. Allen Building, 101X Auditorium, Stanford University

330 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305
Note: ・Networking reception will start 5:30 pm.

・The same program is planned on each date.

・The plan might be changed in the future.

• Participating Japanese Universities

Kavli IPMU | The University of Tokyo
“Cross-Disciplinary Research Center for Addressing the Origin and Evolution of the Universe”
https://www.ipmu.jp/

AIMR | Tohoku University
“Aiming to Establish a Premier Research Center for Materials Science”
https://www.wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp/en/index.html

I²CNER | Kyushu University
“The Grand Highway for a Carbon-Neutral Energy Fueled World”
http://i2cner.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/

ITbM | Nagoya University
“Changing the World with Molecules: Synthetic Chemistry and Plant/Animal Biology”
http://www.itbm.nagoya-u.ac.jp/

• Topics  | Speakers

(1) Kavli IPMU
– Kavli IPMU | Founding Director/Principal Investigator,  Hitoshi Murayama
– Lyman-Alpha Forest Tomography: Mapping the Shadows of the Cosmic Web at High Noon | Project Assistant Professor, Khee‐Gan Lee
(2) AIMR
– Materials research in the digitalized society | Director/Principal Investigator, Motoko Kotani
– Oxide electronics: converting insulators into electronic materials  | Professor/Principal Investigator, Tomoteru Fukumura
(3) I²CNER
– Engineering Carbon‐Neutral Energy Solutions and Cultural Bridges Across the Pacific  | Director/Principal Investigator, Petros Sofronis
– Efficient and Stable Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells  | Associate Professor, Toshinori Matsushima
(4) ITbM
– Institute of Transformative Bio‐Molecules (ITbM): Changing the World with Molecules  | Administrative Director/ Designated Professor, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto
– A bump-and-hole strategy toward freehand manipulation of plant hormone signaling  | Designated Associate Professor,  Naoyuki Uchida

• Inquiries

Have questions about World Premier Research in Japan (JSPS)? Contact JSPS San Francisco. Email: webmaster@jspsusa-sf.org

• RSVP

Please RSVP on our event website: https://goo.gl/forms/eLllE3MirXpLRPrl1

JSPS and JFIT held a symposium “AI and the Future of Society: A Global Approach to Understanding the Digital Disruption” on April 27 and 28 in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, the German Institute for Japan Studies and several other organizations.

The conference brought together scholars from Japan, the U.S. and Germany, to explore the “state of the art” of social science thinking about the ongoing technological disruption, innovation, and national policy responses in different countries. The Conference was open to many different lines of inquiry, including:

• What are the new complexities of the men-machine relationship, ongoing societal challenges, and new issues such as job replacement or ethical priority rankings of self-driven cars or automated surgeons?
• How are large companies responding to the disruption: what are new business models, corporate strategies, or operations management and human resource practices?
• How should we think about new regulatory structures and global agreements, e.g. on privacy and cybersecurity, in the health sciences, or for robots and drones?
• What are the legal, ethical and societal challenges associated with the fast pace of technological change?
• What is the impact of these developments on innovation and entrepreneurship, including government policies and market responses such as newly emerging corporate innovation strategies?

The conference had a high degree of interdisciplinary exchange. We are pleased to see this event serve as the inaugural conference of a new research initiative on digitization and the future of society from a global perspective. JSPS will continue to support such academic symposia that helps strengthen international cooperative networks.

On February 24 and 25, JSPS San Francisco and the Center for Japanese Studies (CJS), University of California, Berkeley held a joint symposium on “New Topics, Technologies, & New Times: Japan Ahead” at the International House in Berkeley.

The objective of this symposium was to bring together scholars of Japanese Studies from Japan and the US to discuss the future of Japan in academic communities.  The symposium started with opening remarks by Professor Dana Buntrock, Chair of CJS, and Dr. Toru Tamiya, Director of JSPS San Francisco. More than 20 scholars came together to discuss five topics over the course of two days: “Cross-Cultural Exchanges: Study Abroad and Its Impact”, “Language Education and Where It Leads”, “Are Science, Technology, Engineering and Math a Part of Area Studies of Above it?”, “Media Gateways, Transnational Frames”, and “Area Studies Under Threat: How Will Japan be Taught in the Years Ahead?”. JSPS sponsored four session speakers: Professor Shingo Ashizawa, Toyo University, Professor Masayo Fujimoto, Doshisha University, Professor Mayumi Usami, National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics, and Professor Shunya Yoshimi, the University of Tokyo.

These sessions were followed by a keynote speech by Professor Patricia Steinhoff from the University of Hawaii. She shared her wealth of research experience with the participants and gave insight on the future of Japanese Studies in academic communities in the age of globalization.

JSPS San Francisco will continue to support such symposiums, and maintain a strong partnership with CJS.

JSPSサンフランシスコ研究連絡センターでは、カリフォルニア大学バークレー校日本研究センターとの共催シンポジウム “New Topics, Technologies, & New Times: Japan Ahead” を2017年2月24日、25日に開催しました。

ご参加、ご協力誠にありがとうございました。

日時：　2017年1月28日（土）午後1時30分～午後19時30分

場所：　DAVID BROWER CENTER　Tamalpais Room, Gallery

JSPS日本人研究者交流会　2016年度冬への多数のご参加、誠にありがとうございました。
 
本交流会は、米国において活躍されている日本人研究者の方々の分野を越えた交流を促進し、必要な情報を得たり友好を深めていくことを通じて、研究活動をより一層充実させていくことを目的に、年に2度開催しております。交流会には現地でPIとして活躍されている研究者、ポスドク、大学教員、企業研究者など総勢83名方にご参加いただきました。

研究紹介ではJSPSの事業で渡米している3名の若手研究者から発表がありました。また、カリフォルニア大学アーバイン校講師（元広島大学大学院理学研究科教授）の田島　文子先生をお招きし、My journey around the worldをテーマにご自身の研究生活についてお話をいただきました。
 
その後のグループディスカッションでは、各グループにテーマを選択いただき、参加者の皆様に幅広く議論いただきました。本交流会は研究分野を超えた意見交換、交流、ネットワークづくりの場として活用され、大変有意義な会となりました。
 
懇親会には今回からの新たな取り組みとして、JSPSの事業を通じて渡日経験のある日本人以外の研究者にも参加いただきました。
次回は、JSPS日本人研究者交流会　2017年度夏を今年の夏にベイエリアで開催予定です。
 
JSPS would also like to thank all of the Japanese researchers and JSPS fellowship alumni who attended the JSPS Researcher Reception 2017.
 
We aim to continue building the joint network of Japanese researchers and JSPS alumni on the west coast and look forward to furthering connections at our next event. We will update our homepage and mailing lists with details when available.