Charge D'Athires, Mr Connor, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, befbre opening our conference, would you join me in a 1 minute silence fbr the 298 victims including 37 Australian citizens and residents, their families and the loyed ones of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 which was tragically shot down in Eastern Ukraine, the largest air-a ¢ cident involving Australia, Silence, please. Thank you. Again, Charge D'Affttires, Mr Connor, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, it is

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... my great pleasure to open our 2014 International Conference in commemoration ofASAJ's 25th anniversary, along with the Sophia Symposium, I'm Temhiko Fukushima, Professor ofOceanian Studies at the National Defense Academy of Japan, and President of the Australian Studies Association of Japan. Thank you very much fbr joining me in 1 minute silence. Of course, the MH17 case is a sad tragedy which should not be overlooked, but I would like to draw your attention that around 100 victims, including renowned medical professors, were killed on their way to attend the international conference on HIV!AIDS. Although far smaller, our conference today is also an international one which is inaugural for the ASAJ. Without safe passage in air or sea, we won't be able to hold such a forum for free exchanges ofideas, which are essential for