秋篠宮殿下のお言葉

 平成21年9月6日から11日にわたり、日本学術会議との共同主催による国際会議 「第4回世界トライボロジー会議(World Tribology Congress 2009)」を国立京都国際会館において開催しました。 9月7日午前に同会館のメインホールで催した開会式典(Opening Ceremony)には、秋篠宮殿下の御臨席を賜り、 殿下から本会議への祝辞とトライボロジー分野への激励のお言葉をいただきました。 また、附設の技術展示会をご視察いただきました。

 ここに、そのときの写真とともに、開会式典でいただいたお言葉の全文を掲載します。


the World Tribology Congress 2009

Monday, 7th September, 2009,
Main Hall, Kyoto International Conference Center

Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to meet many participants from over 40 countries and region at this opening ceremony of the World Tribology Congress 2009.

This is the world’s largest congress on tribology, held only once every four years. And it gives Japan great pleasure to host this congress, the first time it is being held in the Asia-Pacific region.

I understand that tribology is the study of the principles of friction, lubrication and wear of interacting surfaces in relative motion. Although the word ‘tribology’ may not sound familiar to us, this field extends into almost all aspects of essential modern technology such as automotives, computers, roads, bridges, and artificial joints, all of which are commonly found in our surroundings. Tribology is also one of the key technologies crucial for the sustainable development of human society and industry in solving environmental issues through energy and resource conservation.

It is well-known that practical applications are essential to tribology along with academic research activities. The interdisciplinary studies and collaborative efforts of researchers and engineers in various fields, such as mechanics, materials, physics, chemistry, and medicine have elucidated the wide variety of complicated phenomena of tribology. Also these research results have been applied to various fields in developing new technologies. I expect the large number of participants assembled in this hall, where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997, will engage in further lively discussions on the theme of tribology contributing to the development of a sustainable society.

I hear that, in addition to academic research presentations, there will be a technical exhibition, a plenary lecture and talks, that are also open to the public and to primary, junior high and senior high school students. I hope that the meaning of tribology will gain broader social recognition, and that children, who represent our future, will develop more interest in this field by learning about the importance of science and technology through these events.

To conclude my address, I wish to express my sincere hope that this congress will produce fruitful results for all participants in further contributing to the well-being of humankind through wider international cooperation.

Thank you very much for your attention.


写真1 開会式典において、秋篠宮殿下ご臨席のもと、歓迎の挨拶を述べる木村実行委員長


写真2 開会式典において、秋篠宮殿下からお言葉をいただきました


写真3 お言葉を述べられる秋篠宮殿下


写真4 秋篠宮殿下に技術展示会をご視察いただきました


写真5 技術展示会において省エネ・環境技術の説明をお受けになる秋篠宮殿下