Greetings

Tetsuo Irifune
Chair of the AIRAPT-29 Organizing Committee
Geodynamics Research Center, Ehime University

It is our pleasure to host the 29th AIRAPT Conference, jointly held with the 66th High Pressure Conference of Japan and the 11th Asian Conference for High Pressure Research, in Matsuyama from September 28 to October 3, 2025. Matsuyama, home to the Geodynamics Research Center of Ehime University, is a typical local city on Shikoku Island in southwestern Japan, distinct from larger cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. Although it is unusual for the AIRAPT Conference to be held in a smaller city like Matsuyama, we hope you will enjoy the unique atmosphere of this local town.

Matsuyama is famous for Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, and Matsuyama Castle, both of which are within walking distance from the conference venue. Thus, the city is often referred to as the "town of onsen, castle, and literature." Regarding literature, Matsuyama is the hometown of Shiki Masaoka, a renowned haiku poet, and is also the setting of the famous novel "Botchan" by Soseki Natsume. The historical towns of Uchiko and Ozu are about an hour away by train or bus, and the abandoned Besshi Mine, home to the Sumitomo Group including Sumitomo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., a major supplier of multi-anvil LVPs to our community, is also a similar distance from Matsuyama. You may visit these sites during the conference.

We look forward to seeing you soon in Matsuyama!