On August 21st, an ILC seminar was held in the Rias Hall of Sakari, Ofunato. There, around 520 residents from Ofunato City, Rikuzentakata City, and Sumita Village (collectively called the Kesen region) heard about the latest developments of the ILC, as well as the benefits it would have on the region.

Prof. Satoru Yamashita (specially-appointed professor at the International Center for Elementary Particle Physics of the University of Tokyo) gave the presentation. He explained the goals behind building the ILC, as well as the latest developments within the Japanese government and abroad.

Yamashita said that since the government had stated its interest in the project in March 2019, the whole world was paying attention to what Japan would do next. “Efforts are accelerating to push forth the ILC project into a new stage and organizational framework.”

He said it would be important to show that Japan was working towards cooperation with foreign governments and that the local community was working together to realize the ILC. “It’s crucial to prepare an environment that makes it easy for the government to say yes to the project.”

Jun Sasaki, director-general of Iwate’s Bureau of ILC Promotion, gave a speech on regional development through the ILC.