Preface

Figure 1.

6th International Conference Director Kiyoshi Nakayama and Co-Director Stephen George

The Sixth International Steinbeck Congress was held at the Hotel Kyoto Garden Palace in Kyoto, Japan, on June 6, 7, 8, and 9 in 2005. It was the third time in the history of the International Steinbeck Congresses that the John Steinbeck Society of Japan served as a host: the first Congress took place at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1976, and the third one at the Hawaiian Reagent Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1990.

The theme of the Sixth International Steinbeck Congress was "John Steinbeck: Global Dimensions," which Dr. Tetsumaro Hayashi, Professor Emeritus, Ball State University, first suggested. By "Dimensions," Dr. Hayashi originally must have meant, I presume, "the literary dimensions, a variety of artistic forms or genres" as you can easily imagine from his two books, Steinbeck's Literary Dimension: A Guide to Comparative Studies (Scarecrow, 1973) and Steinbeck's Literary Dimension: A Guide to Comparative Studies, Series II (Scarecrow, 1991). So, in my opinion, figuratively, "Global Dimensions" might be taken to mean "aspects of human behaviors," or "aspects of human conditions" in a global sense of the term. Appropriately, the Program includes a panel discussion under the title, "Steinbeck in a Global Framework."

We gathered together for the first time in Kyoto under the theme of the Congress to share our thoughts with one another, and to celebrate, each with our own contribution, John Steinbeck's invaluable legacy in the global framework. Very fortunately, the Congress was a great success with the attendance of about sixty people each day and brought a new and lively spirit and Steinbeckian congenial feelings among us all. I trust everyone felt at ease among mutual friends and pleased with everyone's efforts, partly because we all stayed at the hotel and thus could easily gather over coffee and cakes at any time during the Congress. When the Congress was over I believe, every participant/attendee must have felt inspired, strengthened and pleasantly challenged, and thus our mission was completed.

In the Opening Address, I made an announcement, with the enthusiastic backing of the Co-Director, Executive Coordinator, and Associate Directors, that we would like to dedicate the Sixth International Steinbeck Congress to Professor Yasuo Hashiguchi, Dr. Tetsumaro Hayashi, and the late Elaine Steinbeck. It has been a long-cherished dream to dedicate the Congress to the three. Professor Hashiguchi and Dr. Hayashi were the Director and Co-Director of the First International Steinbeck Congress held in 1976. That great event triggered the establishment of the John Steinbeck Society of Japan the following year. Their strong friendship led to the great successes of the Second and the Third International Steinbeck Congresses held in Salinas, California and in Honolulu, Hawaii, back in 1984 and in 1990, respectively. What we have done is just following up on what they have done for us all, their legacy and tradition, and we can rather easily cross the bridges they have so graciously built. As for the late Elaine Steinbeck, she was just a wonderful partner for John Steinbeck and a great friend to us all, as well. She passed away on April 27, 2003, just two years before the Congress was held. We displayed a number of photos and memorabilia in the conference room to commemorate the occasion and enjoyed recalling fond memories of the people and events from many years before. I sincerely thank all of the participants/attendees who gracefully joined together in our sincere dedication of the Congress to these three passionate figures, which was topped off with a standing ovation.

From the time of inception to the time of completion of the 2005 Kyoto Steinbeck Congress I have been immensely indebted to a number of individuals: Dr. Tetsumaro Hayashi and Professor Yasuo Hashiguchi as Senior Consultants, Dr. Stephen George as Co-Director, Professor Yoshifumi Kato as Executive Coordinator, Drs. Kyoko Ariki and Scott Pugh and Professor Kiyoshi Yamauchi as Associate Directors, among others who gallantly served on the Executive Committee and the Welcome Committee of the Congress. I must express my heartfelt thanks to those who participated in the Congress, gathering from all over the world. Especially I must extend my sincerest gratitude to those who have served unstintingly in this labor of love as the editors of the proceedings of the Congress, John Steinbeck: Global Dimensions, which will appear next year.

Figure 2.

Steinbeck, probably in the 1960s