The opening ceremony of the SRC's Global COE program on Border Studies was held at the Hokkaido University Museum. We were honoured to have with us many prominent professors, researchers and practitioners including the President of Hokkaido University, Dr. Saeki, along with the Director of the SRC who is also the leader of the GCOE program on Border Studies, Dr. Iwashita, who gave their opening remarks. Also attending the opening ceremony were practitioners from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).