Newly Reorganized Physical Society of Japan

Yoshio Kuramoto - President, JPS
1 Sep ,2011-31 March ,2012
Professor, Tohoku　University

Japan is facing an ordeal caused by the East Japan Earthquake and subsequent disaster in Fukushima nuclear power plants. Those people who suffered from the horrible earthquake and tsunami, however, did not lose kindness to neighbors, and helped each other even more than ordinary times. This attitude of Japanese people was reported worldwide, and became the focus of international respect. It was also recognized, as a painful and irritating reality, that incompetence of Japanese leaders becomes more serious as their ranks go up. Among those people who have something to do with physics, it was once expected that politicians with science background would realize more intellectual politics if they get the power. However, we now recognize that the real life is not so simple.

　The Physical Society of Japan (JPS) is a large organization with nearly 20,000 members. In analogy with Japanese politics, one may wonder, while ordinary members of the JPS are excellent, whether the leaders of the JPS are poorer in the upper rank. Actually, our JPS has been operating smoothly by leadership of the President, the President-Elect, and the executive board with the help of administrative staff. Immediately after the earthquake, for example, the executive board took prompt action, and the resultant emergency policy was consistent throughout. With understanding and support of the JPS members, no great confusion occurred as to dealing with registered presentations and fees for the Niigata meeting that was cancelled.

　The JPS was reorganized under the new Japanese law from 1 September 2011 as a general incorporated association. This does not mean the change of basic function and character of the JPS, but the management rule changes considerably. In particular, the role of general assembly of representatives becomes more important. For instance, a new President assumes the position immediately after the executive board meeting, which follows the general assembly. The most convenient occasion for the general assembly is the JPS March meeting. In the old rule, the term of a new President is from September in the same year. From 2012, however, the new term begins already from April. Namely, my term as the President ends in March 2012, a half year from now. In this sense, I will have the honor (!?) of being the first President under the new cooperation law and, at the same time, of having the shortest term in the long history of the JPS. What can a President do in such a short period? Possible choice is to touch on long-standing problems taking advantage of the short term. These issues include review of the numbered division system especially in condensed matter area.

　It is vital for the JPS to promote its own academic journals: Journal of the Physical Society of Japan (JPSJ) and Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (PTEP). The PTEP will be published on-line only, and its inauguration (2012) is approaching. For the first year, PTEP will coexist with Progress of Theoretical Physics (PTP), then both journals unite in 2013. PTEP will be an open-access journal, which needs financial support from academic organizations. There remains fixing of detailed arrangement on this matter. On the other hand, JPSJ is running smoothly for the moment, with its impact factor increasing almost up to three. However, the number of customers is not increasing. It is necessary to strengthen the international character with wider areas of submission, and to distribute in wider areas in the world. The increasing sales and improved digital contents are the two faces of a coin.

　Concerning international activity of the JPS, emphasis on Asian neighbors, in addition to US and European friends, will be continued. I think it is important to enhance interaction also with South American and East European countries. Many JPS members already have an individual tie with them, but these areas are a kind of frontiers for the JPS with potential of more fruitful interaction. Mutual participation in academic meetings will be the first thing to cultivate friendship. Then the interaction may level up to more elaborate cooperation.

　During my term, I will try to challenge other important issues as well, by activating the executive board and listening to the JPS members in the front of research and education. I would appreciate active support and cheerful cooperation of the JPS members as well as international colleagues.