The welcome reception for ILD Meeting 2018 was held on the night of February 20th at Sekinoichi restaurant in Tamura-cho, Ichinoseki. Performances at the reception included an English play performed by local children which got a pleased reaction from researchers and other guests.

This reception was held at the end of the first day of the meeting and was attended by researchers attending the meeting, Ichinoseki mayor Osamu Katsube, Ichinoseki workers and other guests. Local specialty dishes like mochi and local sakes were served at the reception.

The Yamanome Civil Center has been holding these English plays with local youth since 2015. Elementary to high school age children in Ichinoseki city as well as city Assistant Language Teachers perform in the play, which is about the great contributions made by Otsuki Gentaku (1757-1827) a scholar of Dutch/Western sciences from Ichinoseki City. At times laughter rang out from the audience as the play included humorous scenes about Gentaku’s time studying in Nagasaki.

The end of the play was set in Ichinoseki in 2030. It depicted a more international and technologically advanced future with a completed International Linear Collider. The researchers who are working to realize the ILC gave the play a big round of applause.