国際リニアコライダー（ＩＬＣ）シンポジウム「ＩＬＣ実現と地域社会の展望」（いわてＩＬＣ加速器科学推進会議主催）は２５日、水沢区の市文化会館（Ｚホール）で開かれた。パネリストとして地元の胆江２市町とＩＬＣ建設候補地周辺エリアとなる気仙３市町の首長、前県知事で日本創生会議座長の増田寛也氏らが登壇し、誘致実現に伴う地域の将来像などについて意見を交わした。増田氏は「他地域の地方創生にはあり得ないもの」と述べ、地域振興に果たすＩＬＣが意義は大きく、高い価値を有していることを来場者に訴えた。

　同日は約３２０人が来場した。パネリストは増田氏のほか▽鈴木厚人県立大学学長▽戸田公明大船渡市長▽戸羽太陸前高田市長▽多田欣一住田町長▽高橋由一金ケ崎町長▽小沢昌記奥州市長──の６氏。吉岡正和東北大学客員教授がコーディネーターを務めた。ＩＬＣをめぐり、胆江２市町と気仙３市町の首長が意見を交わすのは初めて。
　増田氏は、ＩＬＣ誘致をめぐる現状について「中国もＩＬＣに似たようなものをやる意欲があるなど、ＩＬＣの日本誘致にいくつかのハードルがある」と分析。その上で、「今から来ることを前提に取り組んでほしい」と呼び掛けた。
　戸田大船渡市長は、ＩＬＣ実現による産業振興に期待。「地域の産業がレベルアップしていけるよう施策を講じなければならない。建設資材受け入れとして大船渡の港が使われるよう取り組みたい」と述べた。
　戸羽陸前高田市長は「小さいころからＩＬＣに接することで科学や国際交流などに必然的に関心を持ってもらえることになる」と、教育環境の充実につながると説いた。
　小沢奥州市長は「さまざまな国の文化を受け入れる上で、まずはわれわれの文化を見つめ直す、いい機会になる。ＩＬＣは素晴らしいチャンスを与えてもらう機会だ」と強調。高橋金ケ崎町長は「地域の文化を大切にしながら、外国人研究者と共生できる都市形成が必要になる。産業創出などで岩手、東北が連携していくことが大事」と述べた。
　基調講演では、高エネルギー加速器研究機構（つくば市、ＫＥＫ）の機構長を今年３月まで務めた鈴木氏が登壇。岩手や宮城などで活動するさまざまなＩＬＣ関連団体・組織が「早期にまとまって組織をつくるべきだ」と指摘。有識者と行政、地区（地域住民）が三位一体で動いていく必要性も論じた。

写真＝ＩＬＣをめぐり意見を交わす胆江、気仙の５首長ら

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"Visions of the Future: Mayors in Tanko, Kesen Areas Gather for Symposium"

The ILC symposium “Realization of the ILC and Prospects for Local Community” (hosted by the Iwate ILC Accelerator Science Promotion Council) was held in Z Hall in Mizusawa, Oshu on July 25th. Panelists were mayors of the two Tanko area municipalities and three Kesen municipalities that are around the ILC candidate site, former Iwate governor and Japan Policy Council Chairman Masuda Hiroya, taking the stage to exchange opinions on a future vision of the local area accompanying realization of the ILC. Mr. Masuda stated that “[The ILC would bring about] things unheard of in revitalization of other regions,” impressing to listeners the ILC has great significance for regional development and is very valuable.

Around 320 people attended the event. Besides Mr. Masuda, other panelists were: President of Iwate Prefectural University Atsuto Suzuki, mayor of Ofunato City Kimiaki Toda, mayor of Rikuzentakata City Futoshi Toba, mayor of Sumita Town Kinichi Tada, mayor of Kanegasaki Town Yoshiichi Takahashi, and mayor of Oshu Masaaki Ozawa. Guest professor at Iwate University and Tohoku University Masakazu Yoshioka served as master of ceremony. This was the first time that mayors from the two Tanko municipalities and three Kesen area municipalities exchanged their opinions on the ILC.

Mr. Masuda gave his analysis on the current status of attracting the ILC, saying that “There are several hurdles for bringing the ILC to Japan, including that China also wants to do something similar to the ILC.” He called for “working from now under the assumption the ILC is coming.”

Mayor Toda of Ofunato City expressed his hopes for industry promotion due to the ILC. “We have to implement measures so that local industry can continue to improve. We want to work so that Ofunato port can be used for bringing in construction materials.”

Mayor Toba of Rikuzentakata explained the ILC would lead to enhancing the educational environment, saying that “With children in contact with the ILC from when they`re little, they`d necessarily be more interested in science and international exchange.”

Oshu mayor Ozawa said that “Welcoming cultures from various countries will become a good opportunity for us to first reconsider our own culture. The ILC gives us a wonderful chance.” Kanegasaki Town mayor Takahashi said that, “While continuing to value our own culture, we will need to form cities where we can coexist with international researchers. It`s important for Iwate, Tohoku to cooperate on industry creation and other issues.”

For the keynote speech, former Director General of KEK in Tsukuba until March Mr. Suzuki took the podium, pointing out that the various ILC-related groups active in Iwate and Miyagi “should promptly come together and form an organization,” also saying it was necessary for scientists, the government, and locals (local people) to come together and work as one.

Photo = 5 Mayors in Tanko and Kesen areas who exchanged an opinion about ILC


*Translation by Oshu city ILC Promotion Division.