Welcome Message The Global IPv6 Summit, under the direction of the IPv6 Forum, is staged in various locations around the world with the aim of promoting the deployment of IPv6. The Global IPv6 Summit in Japan represents the Asia region's first opportunity to host this meeting. IP version 4 (IPv4), the Internet's current address structure, was deployed at a time when the scale of the Internet was still comparatively small. The overwhelming scale of the today's network was not anticipated at the time of IPv4 deployment. When it became apparant in the early 1990's that the depletion of IPv4 address space was an issue of importance, a number of measures were considered - the result being the establishment of IPv6. Address depletion, thanks to developments such as Network Address Translator, has been slowed to some extent however it is expected that the IPv4 address space will be completely exhausted in roughly ten years. IPv6 is not simply an expansion of IPv4 address space, but an expansion on IPv4 experience, adding essential standards such as security and multicast. It represents a restructuring of IPv4. A phrase often used to describe address availability compares IPv4 as a single bucket of sand to IPv6 represented as the volume of sand necessary to create the entire earth. However, the next generation Internet Protocol is not attracting attention simply due to its abundant address availability and features. The attention is generated by the paradigm shift that IPv6 is sure to generate. Not only personal computers but mobile phones, home appliances, automobiles, etc. all will be assigned IP addresses in effect making them devices capable of communication. The strength of the Internet as an open network is sure to change the way we live, the way we do business and the structure of the society we live in. IPv6 technology is reaching a state of readiness. For all of us involved in the Internet, the time has come to discuss the transition from IPv4 to IPv6. Not only from a technological perspective, but from a point of view including business and sociological perspectives, the need for wide reaching discussion is felt. The Summit will consist of presentations outlining the status of IPv6 deployment on a regional basis throughout the world. It will also feature panels discussing the expected business changes generated by deployment of IPv6 and analyzing detailed models for making the change from IPv4 to IPv6. Bringing together participants leading the movement toward IPv6 and those involved in IPv4-related business and investment, the future of the Internet and the direction of Internet business and technology will be debated. Steering Group of Global IPv6 Summit in Japan was established to handle the management of the meeting, bringing together a group of individuals with a shared committment to the deployment of IPv6. On behalf of the entire Committee, I welcome your support of the Summit and your presence in Osaka. Takashi Arano Chairman Steering Group of Global IPv6 Summit in Japan Steering Group Member List of Global IPv6 Summit in Japan Chairman of the Steering Committee   Takashi Arano NTT Communications Corporation Program Committee Chair Koichiro Fujimoto NEC Corporation Chair Kazuhiko Yamamoto Internet Initiative Japan Inc.   Atsushi Inoue Toshiba Corporation   Tetsuo Oura Hitachi, Ltd.   Shin Miyakawa NTT Multimedia Communications Laboratories, Inc. Network Committee Chair Tomohiro Fujisaki Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation   Makoto Otsuka NTT Software Corporation   Tatsuya Jinmei Toshiba Corporation PR Committee Chair Kozue Iizuka Research Institute for Internet Strategies, Inc. Chair Akihiro Inomata Fujitsu Ltd. Secretariat Director Akira Shinoda NTT Software Corporation   Hidekazu Arai e-side, Inc.   Scott Macdonald e-side, Inc.   Yuji Saitoh Fujitsu Ltd. Members   Toru Takahashi Research Institute for Internet Strategies, Inc.   Yoshihiro Matsumoto Osaka Media Port Corporation   Osamu Kataoka Tokyo Telecommunication Network Co., INC.   Akihiro Kojima Tokyo Telecommunication Network Co., INC.   Hajime Sakaguchi Tokyo Telecommunication Network Co., INC.   Tim Gleeson Cisco Systems K.K.   Yoshifumi Atarashi Hitachi, Ltd.   Kazuaki Tsuchiya Hitachi, Ltd.   Koji Kawano Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.   Takumi Segawa Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc.   Hirohide Mikami Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation   Shinichi Ezaka NTT Communications Corporation   Hiroaki Sadata NTT Communications Corporation   Toshihito Shibata NTT Communications Corporation   Tetsuya Nakai NTT Communications Corporation   Fujio Nobori NTT Software Corporation