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Round-table talk : “Monozukuri” (manufacturing) of Japan and synthesiology−57−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.4 No.1 (2011) and we need both the ability to create the individual state-of-the-art science and technologies and the ability of integration for the large scale-complex socioeconomic system. The large scale-complex socioeconomic system is a giant sprawl of spatial, physical, social expanse, having complex interactions of the various elements within, and the performance and reliability affect society and economy significantly. It is exemplified by the social network of artifacts such as the Internet, the high-speed transportation systems, the nuclear power plant, and the space system. The creation of the life innovation and the green innovation launched in the 4th Science and Technology Basic Plan can be called the creation of the large scale-complex socioeconomic system. The proposition of the high added value manufacturing (monozukuri) that leads the world involves the interaction of the recognition science or the “research of the existing” and the design science or the “study of things that should exist”, as well as the integration of knowledge of these science and technologies. I think the importance of synthesiology lies here.YabeThe mega-complex socioeconomic system cannot be built without knowledge integration. Integration involves synthesis. Dr. Nariai, what is your view on this topic?NariaiI graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the university in 1962. In the classes at the time, importance was placed on the design and experiments, along with the four dynamics: mechanical, material, fluid, and thermal. In many classes, the actual mechanical systems were lectured. The core of the education at that time was to advance the technologies introduced from abroad since the Meiji Era, in a Japanese-manner. When designing or experimenting the rotating machines, we had to calculate the strength, vibration and thermal-fluid characteristics all by ourselves. They were synthetic classes.In contrast, university education in the late 1960s began to emphasize the basic engineering. The universities were to teach the basics, and the companies were to train persons in the specialties after they became employed at the company. As a result, there was a diversification of the fields of specialty in university education. At the University of Tsukuba, the engineering field was established in 1977 under the new concept that emphasized design integration as well as basic engineering. In practice, however, not only education but also research at the university put emphasis on the basics.After the transition from the introduction of technology from abroad in the Meiji Era, to the self-development of technology, and now in the age of globalization, we must develop the technology with Japanese advantages. Therefore, synthesis is very important in such technological developments.The characteristic of Japanese manufacturing is the presence of major companies that develop the devices and systems, and the small-medium companies that possess specific technologies to support them. In the 1960s when Japan started to take advantage of technology, excellent young people, known as the “golden eggs”, came from the countryside to the small-medium companies and contributed significantly to the formation of the technological foundation. By the 1980s, however, young people from the countryside became scarce. At the same time, the technology became sophisticated with the advancement of computerization and IT. Despite such difficulties, it was wonderful that the small-medium companies adopted new technology to adapt to the sophistication of Japanese manufacturing. Dr. Tsuge called such transfer of technology as “Japanese style techno-genome”. My current concern is: as industry globalizes with competition becoming increasingly fierce, is it possible to sustain the uniquely Japanese technological genetic information into the future? In any event, integration and synthesis of wide-ranging fields are important to reinforce the technological foundation of Japan.TsugeI think there are two qualities of synthesis. One is the Dr. Hideki Nariai“Pursuit of the existing” ・Pursuit of the “existing” such as life and human beings, society, world, and space ・Inevitably fall into fine segmentation of the discipline as the volume of knowledge increasesImportance of synthesiology lies here“Pursuit of things that should exist” ・Creation of social and economic values that will benefit society and human life ・Science is becoming more important for the sustainable development of Japan and the world“Mission to create sustainable innovation”Recognition scienceRecognition scienceDesign scienceDesign scienceInteraction and integration of knowledgeInteraction and integration of knowledgeFig. 1 Proposition of the high value added manufacturing (monozukuri) for leading the world in the “ability to create large scale-complex socioeconomic system”

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