Japan has one of the world's most active community of geomorphologists. The membership of the Japanese Geomorphological Union (JGU) stood at 824 in 2000 and displays several unique features. The JGU has its own IAG recognised journal (Transactions of the JGU). The disciplinary affiliations of its members are remarkably evenly split (Geomorphology: 40%; Civil/Sabo Enginering: 16%; Geology: 11%, Geography: 10% and Geophysics/Hydrology: 8%). Employment sectors represented are first university faculty (34%); then construction company employees (17%) and third, students (10%). Japan has a rich geomorphological heritage (Kaizuka and Suzuki, 1993) and registrants at the 5th. ICG will learn of this from the plenary lectures, thematic sessions, symposia, pre- and post-conference field trips, field trips on August 27, a meeting for Young Geomorphologists and a series of fine social events.
The IAG is honoured to be the guest of the JGU at its 5th. ICG. This will be the first ICG to be held outside Europe and North America, and symbolizes the urgent need to demonstrate the global nature of the IAG. This is actually the tenth formal meeting of the IAG. We have met successively in Manchester, UK, Frankfurt, Germany, Ankara, Turkey, Hamilton, Canada, Singapore, Budapest, Hungary, Bologna, Italy, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nanjing, China and now Tokyo, Japan. On behalf of the IAG, I welcome all registrants to this meeting and look forward with you to an excellent week of international geomorphology.
We should all be aware of the exceptional leadership provided by Dr. Takasuke Suzuki, Coordinator of the Local Organizing Committee. I know that he has been thinking about this event since at least the Frankfurt meeting in 1989 and much of the initial momentum surrounding the proposal to meet in Tokyo derives from his proposal. He and his committee have been working tirelessly on this project. We are all in their debt.
Olav Slaymaker, President, IAG
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