On February 11th (February 12th Japan time), members of the Federation of Diet Members for the ILC attended the first US-Japan Political Leaders’ Forum on Science and Technology in Washington, DC. Ryu Shionoya, secretary-general of the Federation of Diet Members for the ILC, announced a plan to hold this forum with supportive congress members from both countries regularly, promoting Japan-US cooperation on cutting edge science and technology including accelerators.
Approximately 50 people attended, including Ryu Shionoya, vice chair of Federation of Diet Members for the ILC Shunichi Suzuki, federation deputy executive officer Taku Otsuka and researchers from the US and Japan. Director—General of the Linear Collider Collaboration Lyn Evans also attended the meeting.
The participants shared the view that participation between the US and Japan should be strengthened in cutting edge accelerators including the ILC, space projects, nuclear fusion, and super computers as science and technology are important for development in US and Japan and for national security.
On that day, Congress carried over until the evening, so the senators intending to attend were forced to cancel. Charles Boustany and Joaquin Castro, congressmen in the US House of Representatives and co-chairs of the congressional organization Japan-US Caucus sent the message that “We will work together through this forum.”