First Edition of“Applied Physics Express”
Hiroshi Ooki
Publication Chair of Japan Society of Applied Physics
Nikon Corporation

The first edition of Applied Physics Express (APEX) waspublished in January 2008. We look forward to your submissions of research papers for this new and innovative Journal.
Many special benefits will be offered for submissions this year.
APEX, in which every page is printed in full color, features anunprecedented submission rate of 67% off the regular ratefor JJAP (Japanese Journal of Applied Physics) Part2. A similar
campaign is also being conducted for submissions to JJAP. Welook forward to your active submissions to both publications.
The goal of these bold innovations is to further increase
the status of the Japan Society of Applied Physics JJAP Journal
as Japan’s largest English language science journal, and tofirmly establish Japan’s position as a base for the transmission of information on science and technology. We specificallyeliminated the word “Japanese” from the new name APEX
with an awareness of transmitting information throughout theworld, but at the same time, the name of the Japan Societyof Applied Physics is displayed on the cover, to clearly emphasize that the information contained in the Journal originates inJapan.
Of course, the innovations at JJAP / APEX will not belimited to the recent refurbishment of the journal. Above all,an outstanding journal is defined by the outstanding papers
submitted for publication. Is it a good journal because many
good papers are submitted, or does it attract good papers
because it is a good journal? It sounds like the old riddle about
the chicken and the egg, but in any case, those of us involvedin the publication of the journal feel that it is our mission tocreate a journal that more authors will want to contribute

to. There is no easy path tofulfilling this mission, but wehave conducted activities overthe past year in the belief
that the publication of APEX
will without doubt make apositive contribution to thefuture of the JSAP journal. You can sit down and debate ideasa hundred times over, but if you don’t put those ideas intoaction, then all those efforts are meaningless. It took a lot ofcourage 18 months ago to decide to begin publishing APEX
in 2008, but we are pleased that this new journal has finallymade it to the presses. I would like to take this opportunity tothank all those society members who offered their support,
both directly and indirectly, in achieving this important objective.
This year, which marks the first year of APEX, will require
further innovations from a variety of perspectives. How can
we further increase the recognition of APEX throughout theworld? How can we establish a system of receipt and refereeing that will welcome the largest number of authors?
The challenge set before the Editorial Committee and thePublishing Committee is to pursue “Author’s Satisfaction”
from these diverse viewpoints; sometimes like a company
competing against other publishers for superiority in thefield, and sometimes as an academic organization with some25,000 members. Now that APEX has gotten off the ground,
we look forward to your continued support in the years tocome.

JSAP International   No.18 (July 2008)        11