Editorial Staff

PWRI Web Magazine Editorial Staff
P.R. Managerial Meeting
<Tsukuba>
General Manager: Dr.Kazunori Wada Representative managers: Mr.Tomio Akita, Mr.Ryoichi Kurosaki, Mr.Toshio Yarimizo, Mr.Masuo Kondo, Mr.Minoru Kikuchi, Mr.Makoto Kimura Managers: Mr.Yoshiaki Sato, Mr.Shinsuke Setoshita, Mr.Akira Kamakura, Mr.Yoshinori Nonomura, Ms.Yuko Nagaya, Mr.Yuya Kato, Dr.Mamoru Suwa, Mr.Yuji Okayasu, Mr.Hiroyuki Sato, Mr.Koji Ishida, Mr.Masaru Terada, Mr.Naoki Yanatori, Mr.Tomoyuki Noro
<CERI>
Mr.Nobuhiko Komachiya, Mr.Tadayuki Wada Representative managers: Mr.Naoki Yorozu, Mr.Toshihiro Nakamori, Managers: Mr.Hirofumi Kitsuta, Mr.Masashi Mori, Ms.Maiko Kawanaka, Ms.Sayaka Okazaki



Editor´s Note

In Tsukuba, cherry blossoms have passed their peak and begun to fall. As I came from Obihro, Hokkaido in April to assume this post I feel as if I have gone forward in time and missed my chance. Researchers often travel overseas on business. I am intrigued that travel itineraries show that the amount of time required differs between outward and return journeys, perhaps because of the effect of the prevailing westerlies or the rotation of the Earth.
Although time is supposed to flow at a constant rate, it seems to flow faster when I concentrate than while waiting for a bus. Based on the theory of relativity, the older of twin brothers, who has traveled in space at the speed of light and come back, is younger than the younger one. It sounds like Urashima Taro (a Japanese version Rip van Winkle). If so, would the crew on the Space Battleship Yamato (This animated cartoon likes a Star Trek. The Space Battleship can travel at the speed of light.) be younger when they come back to the earth?
In this issue of the PWRI News, we will introduce the Chishima cherry blossom at the CERI in Sapporo City (However this article is Japanese only). Cherry blossoms can still be enjoyed in Hokkaido if you missed them in other parts of the country. Even though you might not be able to travel at the speed of light, I hope that you can at least feel a little younger viewing such soothing scenery.
We have edited this Web Magazine with a focus on ease of understanding and have striven to make the content herein accessible to high school students and other such youth, as well as interesting for non-professionals. We appreciate your continued interest in our Web Magazine.
(Yoshiaki Sato)