The 18th Biennial Congress of IRSCL

August 25-29, 2007

@Kyoto International Conference Center
Takaragaike Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
+81-75-705-1234

The Number of the Participants (of 21/11/2007)
The number of the participating countries ( including Japan) : 25 countries and areas
Domestic participants: 190
Participants from abroad: 127
A total of 317 persons
One-day-only delegates: 76 (All from Japan)

We would like to thank all of you who came to Japan to attend the 18th Biennial Congress of the IRSCL in Kyoto this summer. It was a great experience for all of us, and we are grateful for your commitment and cooperation. We would be also grateful for you to send us your impressions, comments and suggestions about the 18^th Congress that would help us for arranging and organizing the next event.

We will welcome your messages via e-mail to: irscl2007@gmail.com

I wish the next Congress the greatest success, and we’ll see you in Frankfurt

With the most sincere gratitude and all the best wishes from Japan.

Visa Requirements

Citizens of certain countries require entry visas for Japan. Delegates should check with their local Japanese representation beforehand if they need a visa to enter Japan. For further information on visa applications for Japan, please seehttp://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html.

Notice
The Congress Organising Committee or its agents, will not be responsible for any medical expenses, loss or accidents incurred during the congress. Delegates are strongly advised to arrange their own personal insurance to cover medical and other expenses including accident and loss.
Fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Theme: Power and Children's Literature: Past, Present and Future

Children’s literature has the power to help child readers to create diverse and free images of themselves, and to recognize the process of growing up and forming their identities. It can also give them consolation and vital energy. On the other hand, children’s literature has the aspect of serving state propaganda, imposing the social and moral codes of the dominant culture on child readers, and depriving them of their imaginative power, sensitivity and ability to think for themselves. Bearing these positive and negative aspects in mind, we will examine the power of children’s literature in the past and the present, and explore the possibility of children’s literature in the future.

Under the auspices of:	The Association for Studies of Picture Books International Institute for Children's Literature, Osaka Japan Society for Children's Literature in English Japan Society for Children's Literature The Lewis Carroll Society of Japan Mother Goose Society of Japan
Supported by	Japanese Board on Books for Young People Japan Society for Studies in Cartoon and Comics Japan Society for Animation Studies The International Kamishibai Association of Japa Kyoto International Manga Museum

IRSCL Japan Committee irscl2007_kyoto@hotmail.co.jp

This congress is financially supported by Commemorative Organization for the Japan World Exposition '70

Surrounded by beautiful mountains, Kyoto, one of the oldest cities in Japan, has many tourist attractions: traditional shrines, temples and museums. You can explore and enjoy the old and the modern aspects of the city.

The first congress to be held in Asia which will enlarge undoubtedly the IRSCL membership's international experience and opportunities.