At a press conference in Tokyo on November 20th, scientists that support the ILC stressed how important it is that the project be realized. They also urged that the Science Council of Japan’s ILC Committee make a course change in their wary deliberations of the ILC. When asked by a reporter about sharing the huge cost burden internationally, they asked for understanding: “Informal deliberations have been taking place among scientists, and formal negotiations will start once the government makes its decision.” Eyes are now on a response from the ILC Committee.

Attending the press conference were Atsuto Suzuki (President of Iwate Prefectural University), Satoru Yamashita (Specially-appointed professor of the International Center for Elementary Particle Physics of the University of Tokyo), Kiyotomo Kawagoe (professor at Kyushu University’s Faculty of Sciences), Yasuhiro Okada (executive director at KEK), and Kunihisa Yamura (Chair of the Federation of Iwate Chambers of Commerce and the Iwate ILC Promotion Council).

Chair Yamura said, “There is a focus on the negative in the ILC Committee’s draft. Economic effects from the ILC will show up in how it develops the region and how it cultivates human resources. We will work even harder to prepare to receive the project, extract a variety of advantageous effects, and contribute to Japan and the world.”

In response to the ILC Committee’s claim that there was “no outlook” of international cost-sharing, Prof. Yamashita said, “Within scientists’ informal plan for cost-sharing, Japan’s share of the costs is around half.” He asked for understanding: “After the national government starts formal deliberations and after they make a decision, international negotiations will start. After that point, if conditions don’t become favorable regarding cost-sharing and other matters, then Japan can back out of the project.”

Prof. Kawagoe spoke about how they were talking about the ILC to various fields of the scientific community. “We have held many seminars for students and researchers. We will continue to do this and other things to encourage dialogue with other scientific fields, and we will work our hardest to ensure that we can get a mutual understanding.”