Science in cherry blossom season SASJ media trip to Japan 2020

Date Sat 21 March to Sat 04 April 2020 (2 days for flights, 13 days for visits/sightseeing)

Travel price CHF 4,000 to CHF 4,500; depending on attendance (15 to 22) and fundraising

Registration: Binding prebooking until 15 September, definite registration until 15 October 2019 (deadline, initial payment needed)

A WHY A MEDIA TRIP TO JAPAN?

Japan is one of the world leaders in science and technology, but top research results from Nippon aren’t well-known in Europe. For Swiss scientists however, Japan is one of the most important partner nations. The SASJ media trip will visit research topics linked to social developments where Japan plays an avant-garde role and which are also relevant for future Switzerland. Moreover, interesting scientific collaborations between the two countries are planned to visit as well (via ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Bern).

Topic 1: Old and young – In the land of centenarians and a neglected youth (7 visits)

Japan has a fast aging and even shrinking population. Today, more than 25 percent have reached the age of

65, yet 68,000 persons the age of 100 (0.54 %0). In Switzerland are living today 1,600 centenarians, i.e. rela- tively three times less (0.19 %0). As the Japanese government doesn’t push immigration enough, the chal- lenges to meet the rapidly growing demand for highly qualified jobs and for caring sick people and senior citizens are substantial. The solution is Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics where Japan wants to remain world leader and to become an ultra-smart society. We will visit various labs, well-known experts and projects (details see program), moreover we will stay overnight in a robot hotel. On the other hand, the adolescent generation has been neglected so far. Now the young people are de- manding more rights and space in society. Interesting connections to science is the sophisticated comics (manga) and (electronic) gaming scene. We will visit some special research projects on manga and the trendy kawaii culture.

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Topic 2: Cutting-edge medical science (2 visits)

Japan has excellent medical researchers. We will visit two Nobel laureates at University: • Prof. , winner in medicine 2012 for his works on IPS cells, and • Prof. Tasuku Honjo, Nobel prize winner in medicine 2018 for his research on cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation.

Topic 3: Energy after Fukushima (3 visits)

Japan has an autonomous energy supply, mainly based on fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) reinforcing the green- house effect. After Fukushima, atomic power is on the way to recover, whereas solar industry profits from a boom. How Japan is facing energy transition, climate change and its environmental problems (e.g. nuclear power plants ruins in Fukushima for decommissioning, facing also Switzerland soon)? Planned visits: • Projects of new renewables (solar, biomass, wind, solar hydrogen production etc.) • Removal of nuclear power plants

Topic 4: Transportation of the future (2 visits)

Most innovative transport technology comes from Japan. To where tend the traffic systems for future genera- tions? How do they look like? What progress has been made with self-propelling cars and super highspeed trains? Visits of corresponding research projects (Maglev Test Center, Toyota City).

Topic 5: Special avantgarde research (4 visits)

• Architecture and urbanistics: Trendsetting buildings and projects, Japanese / Swiss linked architects) • Astronomy: Are we alone in the universe? Research on extrasolar planets (collaboration with Switzer- land) • Agronomy: Innovative greenhouse production, agrobusiness of the future • Moonshot project: ¥100-billion initiative for a carbon emissions and plastic free society (managed by Japan Science and Technology Agency JSTST)

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Science in cherry blossom season – SASJ media trip to Japan 2020

Topic 6: Historical sights and touristic spots:

• Hiroshima: Peace Museum and Peace Memorial Park • Tokyo, Kyoto (guided and individual tour, overnight stay in traditional ryokan hotel),

Topic 7: Evening events/receptions:

• Swiss Embassy, Swiss-Japanese Chamber of Commerce • Debate on ethics (robotics, AI, euthanasia etc.) • Evening excursion to one of Tokyo’s most vibrant city districts

B PROGRAM (with links to visits, subject to minor alterations)

Sat 21 March Departure Zurich ZRH: 13:00 (Swiss flight LX 160)

Sun 22 March Arrival Tokyo NRT: 08:55, book into Henn Na Robot Hotel Option (fascinating kickoff): ► teamLab Digital Art Museum, Odaiba (Tokyo) Individual sightseeing, joint dinner ______Mon 23 March Visits of ► Architecture/urbanistics (linked to Switzerland): Works of atelier Bow-Wow (Prof. Momoya Kaijima, ETH Zurich; Prof. Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, Tokyo Institute of Technology TIT) TIT research project: “Architecture of daily life”

► Solar hydrogen generation (by the use of high-efficiency PV): Prof. Masakazu Sugiyama, University of Tokyo (collaboration with Prof. Michael Graetzel, EPFL, sponsored by SNSF)

Evening event ► Swiss Embassy: Briefing about Japan and its science & research ______Tues 24 March Visits of ► AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) in Tsukuba: robotics research (nursing care in hospitals / old age homes)

► Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute in Koryama (Province Fukushima)

Book into Koryama View Hotel ______Wed 25 March Visit of ► Naraha Center for Remote Control Technology Development (leading in decommissioning nuclear power plants) Back by coach from Naraha to Tokyo, book into Shinagawa Prince Hotel

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Science in cherry blossom season – SASJ media trip to Japan 2020

______Thurs 26 March Shinkansen ride Tokyo – Osaka (3 hours, morning), book into Hotel Plaza Osaka

Visit of ► Kawaii culture: Prof. Hiroshi Nittono,

______Fri 27 March Visits of ► Robotics and AI at Osaka University: Prof. Hiroshi Ishiguro, Intelligent Robotics Laboratory; Prof. Rolf Pfeifer, emeritus University of Zurich, Hosoda Laboratory

► Daiwa House in Nara (greenhouse production, agronomic research)

Evening event ► ethics concerning robotics

______Sat 28 March Coach ride from Osaka to Kyoto, sightseeing tour, check-in at Kyoto Ryokan Watazen

Sun 29 March Kyoto area: whole day individual sightseeing (temples, shrines, gardens & Co.)

______Mon 30 March Visits of ► High-class medicine research at : Prof. Shinya Yamanaka (noble prize winner in medicine 2012; IPS cells) Prof. Tasuku Honjo (noble prize winner in medicine 2018, cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation)

► Manga Faculty at Kyoto Seika University

______Tues 31 March Shinkansen ride Kyoto – Hiroshima (3 h)

Visits ► Peace Museum (guided tour) and Peace Memorial Park

Book into New Hiroden Hotel in Hiroshima

______Wed 01 April Shinkansen ride back to Tokyo (4.5 h), book into Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo

2 visit options Robotics/Artificial Intelligence/Virtual Reality: (afternoon) ► Keio Media Design, Prof. Kai Kunze, Keio University

► Rekimoto Lab, University of Tokyo

______Thurs 02 April Visits of ► Super highspeed trains: Maglev Test Center in Tsuru

► Automobile research: Toyota City / Technology Zone in Tokyo

Evening trip ► “Electric town” Akihabara, one of Tokyo’s hottest districts, accompanied by a cultural scientist

______Fri 03 April 2 visit options in Tokyo ► Astronomy: Prof. Shigeru Ida, Tokyo Institute of Technology (population of exoplanets), collaboration with Prof. Yann Alibert, University of Bern

► Moonshot project: ¥100-billion initiative for a carbon emission and plastic free society. at Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

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Science in cherry blossom season – SASJ media trip to Japan 2020

Fri 03 April (cont.) Free time in Tokyo

Farewell event ► Swiss-Japanese Chamber of Commerce or get-together with Japanese colleagues from JASC

______Sat 04 April Departure Tokyo NRT to ZRH: 10:10 (LX 161), arrival ZRH (same day): 15:35

C REGISTRATION

Basic travel conditions Travel dates Saturday, 21 March, to Saturday, 04 April (2 weeks)

Attendance Max. 22 participants (including 2 SASJ guides), minimum 15, priority to ordinary SASJ members

Accommodations All hotels are prebooked (9 double rooms, 6 single rooms), occupancy of double rooms maybe arranged within the group or will be assigned

Travel price CHF 4,000 up to CHF 4,500, depending on attendance and fundraising

Single room surcharge CHF 1,600

Included Listed program (subject to minor alterations), flights ZRH-NRT-ZRH (economy), accommodations (double room, middle class standard, breakfast), transport and transfers, local guides, interpreters, lunches (sometimes lunch bag), dinners, tea, soft drinks

Not included Extra meals and (alcoholic) beverages, insurances, personal expenses, extra costs for flight schedule exceeding group ticket

Registration procedure ► Binding prebooking, until 15 September 2019 ► Shortly after General Assembly: decision if media trip takes place (according to attendance and fundraising result), announcing definite travel price ► If yes: Definite registration, until 15 October 2019 (initial payment needed)

Initial payment Double room: CHF 1,500; for single room: CHF 2,000 (until 15 October, not refundable, if the trip takes place)

Final payment Rest of tour fee, until 15 February 2020

Organizers: Beat Gerber & Sabine Goldhahn

Contact: Mail: [email protected] (prebooking & registration, questions & feedback) Mobile: 079 344 36 88

Initial payment should be done until 15 October 2019 latest, and is regarded as definite registration accept- ing travel conditions. Bank details will be announced. If the media trip will not be realized, the payment will be fully refunded.

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