We would like to draw your attention to the following announcement (apologies if you receive more than one copy). Please distribute to all interested colleagues. We are looking forward to seeing you in Fukushima.

Junichi Watanabe (NAOJ), on behalf of the LOC of APRIM 2023

Final announcement of the Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM 2023)

August 7-11, 2023, hybrid (in-person at Koriyama, Japan
https://www.aprim2023.org/

Topics of this announcement:

    – Payment deadline of registration
    – Important notice for the opening ceremony
    – Tentative program posted
    – Women in Astronomy gathering
    – Payment deadline for lunch box and banquet
    – Deadline for childcare
    – Excursion
    – Hotel information
    – Satellite meetings
    – Weather
    – APRIM2023 official song

• PAYMENT DEADLINE OF REGISTRATION
  Registration to participate in APRIM 2023 closes at
  *** July 20 9:00 in JST (0:00 in GMT) ***.
  Please make sure to complete your payment until the deadline.
• IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY
  The Opening Ceremony on August 7 takes place in Room1-1 “Bandai” (Multi-purpose Hall A) on the first floor of the venue from 13:00. Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess Akishino will attend and give her words to congratulate the opening at this Opening Ceremony. For security reasons, all participants and carry-ons must go through a metal detector at the entrance of the venue. Make sure to have your name tag as the identification which will be supplied at the reception desk for participants. This reception desk will be at the second floor of the venue on the first day. Police will close the doors to the Opening Ceremony Hall promptly at 12:50. After this time nobody can enter the hall, and participation in the ceremony is only possible online. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. On this day, the reception desk will be open in the morning, and you will have special service (the details will be shown in our web site later), please come early enough.
• TENTATIVE PROGRAM
  You can find tentative program of the meeting at
  https://aprim2023.org/program/program-details/
  Soon, the schedule of presentations will move to a different platform with tools to help organize your participation to the technical sessions.
• WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY
  There is a gathering of “Women in Astronomy” on August 10 during lunchtime in the Room1-3 “Tsurugajo” (Convention Hall B). You can bring your lunch for this gathering.
• PAYMENT DEADLINE FOR LUNCH BOX AND BANQUET
  The payment deadline of your lunch box request and registration for the banquet is
  *** July 20 9:00 in JST (July 19 24:00 in GMT) ***.
  Please make sure to check the respective cells in your registration form and make payment, via
  https://aprim2023.org/participate/registration/
  The banquet will be seated, and individual meal will be served, namely not a buffet style. Lunch box has two options beside regular one – halal compliant and vegetarian option.
• DEADLINE FOR CHILDCARE
  If you plan to use the daycare service, please register until July 20 9:00 in JST (July 19 24:00 in GMT) via
  https://aprim2023.org/participate/registration/
• EXCURSION
  The reservation page of excursion of APRIM2023 on August 9 and 12 is open!
  There are four half-day courses on Aug. 9 and three one-day courses on Aug. 12.
  You can find the course details from the web site and reserve your seat through the system.
  https://aprim2023.org/program/social-events/
  The deadline is
  **** July 23 23:59 in JST (July 23 14:59 in GMT) ****.
  Don’t miss this special arrangement!
• HOTEL INFORMATION
  Hotel reservations through the APRIM2023 website have closed, but you can make reservations for hotels in Koriyama City on various websites such as booking.com. Please use them for your reservation. You can find the hotel list where you can use English via
  https://aprim2023.org/travel-2/accommodation/
• SATELLITE MEETINGS
  There are two satellite meetings, “Workshop for Astroinformatics” on Saturday, August 12 in Aizu-Wakamatsu (1.5 h from Koriyama), Fukushima, and “International Conference on K-12 Astronomy Education” on August 14-17 in Taiwan. For more information, please visit the following page.
  https://aprim2023.org/program/satellite-meetings/
• WEATHER
  In August, Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture experiences hot and humid weather with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). There are frequent evening showers and thunderstorms, so carrying an umbrella or rain gear is recommended. Nighttime temperatures are relatively cool, but using air conditioning or fans may still be necessary.
• APRIM2023 OFFICIAL SONG
  Now we have official song of APRIM2023, “ALMA” by ACIDMAN, a Japanese rock band group. You can enjoy it via https://youtu.be/4NwG2xocn6U with lyrics in English.