International Symposium on “Space, Place, and Networking: Inheritance and Creation” is jointly held by Hyogo prefecture and our research project on utilization of Japanese intellectual inheritance, which is supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
It is significant that this symposium is held at Kobe. For, since the Great Hansin earthquake we have seen a momentous turning point in society. Civil organizations such as volunteer groups and NPOs have been increasingly recognized as important agents as they have a stake in making society work, and the government now began to work together with these organizations.
I am sure that a new direction for social reform and research innovation will be created here Kobe through our discussion at this symposium on “Space, Place, and Networking: Inheritance and Creation”
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science started a reform program of humanities and social sciences in our country in 2003 and this program has two tasks. The first is to realize cooperation between humanities/social sciences and science/technology. That is “intellectual fusion”. The second task is to provide solutions to various problems in our modern society from the perspective of humanities.
Let us share the perspective of “Space, Place, and Networking: Inheritance and Creation”, and generate a new debate about how the future society and research should be!
Sincerely,　
Toshio Kuwako
(Project Leader of Utilization of Japanese Intellectual Inheritance）