Japan’s High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK, Director-General: Masanori Yamauchi) is collecting donations from individuals, legal entities, and organizations to fund PR activities for the International Linear Collider. The ILC will be a particle physics laboratory that may be built in the Kitakami mountain of Iwate. KEK’s goal is 10 million yen and they will be fundraising until March 31, 2019.

KEK carries out research and development on the ILC accelerator and electron/positron beams. They have also developed PR activities and traveling lectures to increase awareness of the ILC project in Japan.

There is a level of awareness within the particle physics community and the area surrounding the top candidate site in the Kitakami mountains, but the ILC is still barely known in the Tokyo area and other areas outside of Kitakami.

Up to this point, KEK has worked with various ILC-related organizations to publicize the project in a number of ways. However, KEK is asking for (financial) support, saying, “As we continue to investigate and research the ILC plans, we must not lose this chance to also improve our activities that increase awareness of the project.”

They have prepared special privileges to donators. Individuals giving more than 100,000 yen, and legal entities/organizations giving more than 1,000,000 yen, will be granted a title accorded to their donation amount. They will also be listed on a name plate in the Kobayashi Hall within KEK. Tax breaks are also available.

Individual donations are possible starting from 1,000 yen. Donations may be made through bank transfer, taken directly to KEK, or through credit card. Legal entities may only donate through bank transfer. Please visit KEK’s official site for details.

Questions can be referred to KEK’s ILC Planning Office (TEL: 029-864-5131).