Preface

In the early summer of 2018, Professor Kristen Rundle, guest speaker for the 12th Kobe Lecture, and other participants assembled at Doshisha University in Kyoto, the venue of the inaugural IVR Japan International Conference . By ill luck, the first day was hit by heavy rain that broke historical records, and almost all the trains ceased operations in the area . Nevertheless, participants from many countries struggled to the conference venue . I must confess that I was very touched by seeing them engaging in vigorous discussions of various issues on legal and social philosophy even in such terrible weather . On behalf of the Japanese National Section of the International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR Japan) and the Japan Association of Legal Philosophy ( JALP), it is with great pleasure that I present the proceedings of the 1st IVR Japan International Conference and the 12th Kobe Lecture . The keynote speaker, Professor Kristen Rundle1, read her Kobe Lecture Fuller’s Relationships on July 7, 2018 at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan . Another invited lecturer, Professor Tetsu Sakurai, read his paper Democracy’s Border the following day . More than 80 researchers from around 20 countries participated in the inaugural IVR Japan International Conference . From July 6 to July 8, the two guest lectures were delivered, two selected panels of speakers were organized, and more than 60 peer-reviewed papers were presented . This volume contains the 12th Kobe Lecture and the articles selected through peer review that were originally presented at the inaugural IVR Japan International Conference . Before introducing the inspiring contents of the lecture and articles, I would like to mention the origins of the Kobe Lectures and the IVR Japan International Conference .