Exactly 100 years ago, in 1925, quantum mechanics was born. The German physicist Werner Heisenberg published the first formal system of quantum mechanics, "matrix mechanics. In 1926, the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger proposed the theory of wave forms, and in 1927, the "uncertainty principle," the essence of quantum mechanics, was published again by Heisenberg. Thus, starting in 1925, the world entered the era of the quantum revolution. In Japan, the Taisho era ended and the Showa era began.

WITH THE BIRTH OF QUANTUM MECHANICS, HUMANITY HAS DRAMATICALLY DEEPENED ITS UNDERSTANDING OF THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD OF NATURE OVER THE PAST 100 YEARS AND HAS CREATED NEW TECHNOLOGIES ONE AFTER ANOTHER. IT CAN BE SAID THAT THE CENTURY FROM THE 20TH TO THE 21ST CENTURY HAS INDEED BEEN ONE IN WHICH HUMANITY HAS WALKED HAND IN HAND WITH QUANTUM MECHANICS. THE APPLICATION OF QUANTUM MECHANICS HAS LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS PERSONAL COMPUTERS, SMARTPHONES, AND LEDS. THESE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS DESERVE TO BE CALLED THE "SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION," COMPARABLE TO THE "INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION" THAT BEGAN WITH THE INVENTION OF THE STEAM ENGINE IN THE 18TH CENTURY.

NOW, WHILE THE STUDY OF QUANTUM MECHANICS IS FASCINATING NOT ONLY TO SPECIALISTS BUT ALSO TO NON-SPECIALISTS, IT MAY ALSO SEEM VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND AND SOMEWHAT UNFAMILIAR. IN RECENT YEARS, HOWEVER, WE ARE INCREASINGLY SEEING TERMS SUCH AS QUANTUM COMPUTERS AND QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHY IN THE MEDIA AND ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SERVICES. THE THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN INVITES ALL PEOPLE, SPECIALISTS AND NON-SPECIALISTS ALIKE, TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDER AND FASCINATION OF QUANTUM MECHANICS AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY. WE HAVE ORGANIZED "QUANTUM FEST" WITH THE STRONG DESIRE TO PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE SPECIALISTS OR NOT, CAN EXPERIENCE THE WONDER AND FASCINATION OF QUANTUM MECHANICS AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY, AND FEEL QUANTUM AS "THEIR OWN THING".

Albert Einstein said, "The world is a dangerous place to live in. It is not because there are people with evil intentions, but because there are so many people who are indifferent to the problems". The danger of our losing interest in science remains the same. In the past 100 years, we have faced the question of how science and technology should be properly applied after the tragic experience of the misuse of nuclear energy. This question has nothing to do with differences in expertise, gender, or nationality. While the research and development of science and technology is the role of experts, its results and responsibilities concern society as a whole. We are convinced that the key to shaping the next 100 years will be for everyone to take an interest in cutting-edge science such as quantum mechanics, and to think together about how it can be used. We hope that Quantum Fest will be a catalyst for such awareness and dialogue, and we sincerely thank everyone who attended.

Lastly, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the warm support and encouragement we have received from many people, including through crowdfunding, in organizing this event. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude. In 2026, The Physical Society of Japan will celebrate its 80th anniversary, and in 2027, the Tokyo Mathematical Society (later to become the Physico-Mathematical Society of Japan ) will celebrate its 150th anniversary. We look forward to your continued support of The Physical Society of Japan.

The Physical Society of Japan Quantum Fest Organizing Committee Chair
Takahiro Yamamoto (Professor, Tokyo University of Science)