(Reporting by the Tokyo bureau)

The ILC Supporters, a group of people cheering on the ILC from a number of different fields, met in Tokyo on December 27th for a panel of famous members of researchers called the “Future Conference.” There, they talked about their hopes for the ILC.

Movie director Oshii Mamoru, founder of the ILC Supporters, joined Prof. Yamashita Satoru (specially-appointed professor at the International Center for Elementary Particle Physics of the University of Tokyo), anime director Kobayashi Osamu, and novelist/editor Yamashita Takashi for the panel.

Prof. Yamashita Satoru talked about the ILC: “People from around the world will come to the ILC, and integrate with the local region. It’s an attractive prospect because it can become a model for a new society.” Mr. Kobayashi said, “I hope it becomes a symbol for children to yearn to learn more about science.”

Mr. Oshii looked to the future: “I hope that people come to work at the ILC from all over the world, with the universal value of science as their focus.”

The ILC Supporters were formed in April of 2018, with 68 notable members from the worlds of film, video games, and publishing. The Future Conference will be broadcast from the ILC Supporters homepage in January.