Fwd: A Note About Tokyo

Dear all

I just got this in my inbox, sent only to the SCMSGrad list so I thought it might be helpful to forward this on - being e-mailed only to SCMSGrad it probably won't reach non-student members and I recall some grad students also seem to have trouble getting list e-mails. I know cost ref Tokyo is a considerable issue for many of us, so I felt this note from SCMS was quite thoughtful. At any rate, I hope this will be helpful - I think they really are trying. Otherwise, hope everyone is well and having a great summer!

Cheers
Jenna

From: Rush, Debbie R.
Subject: [SCMSGrad] A Note About Tokyo
To: "scmsgrad@lists-cmstudies.org"
Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 8:48 PM

Dear SCMS members,

As the SCMS conference proposal deadline approaches, you are probably considering the prospect of travelling to Tokyo. Many of you are looking forward to the possibility and are already making plans. Others, for various reasons, have already decided against attending the conference. Some are still undecided. Whatever your inclination, we write this note specifically about the conference in the hope that it will address any lingering questions you may still have about this exciting event.

First, we should reiterate that we believe that there is great value to holding our conference in Tokyo. But costs remain an issue. Since March, airfares have increased. Air travel to Tokyo will be the single biggest expense to the membership. Hotel accommodations, however, will be reasonable and lower than the contracted room rates for previous SCMS conferences in the U.S. Meals and incidentals will be roughly comparable to any large metropolitan city such as New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, but as in any city, one can eat cheaply. Ground transportation from Narita to hotels in the vicinity of JIU will also be comparable to that for any major city in the U.S.

We have made a number of arrangements to enable graduate students and under-employed members to participate in the conference, including grants to help defray the costs of airfare and lodging. Additionally, we have secured a number of rooms in the JIU dormitory, which can be rented at below-market rates. We hope that both these options will cut down expenses considerably for graduate students and under-employed scholars who qualify.

In other words, the cost for this conference will not be extraordinarily more than for others. To illustrate, we have done some math in order to show that for a five-night trip, from O’Hare to Narita airport, the difference in cost is only about four hundred dollars. Of course, one might wish to stay longer in Japan, and of course, one might wish to sightsee, to eat lavishly, and so on. In terms of comparable costs, however, Tokyo requires only a slightly higher budget than does Philadelphia.


Projected individual travel expenses: Philadelphia v. Tokyo


Philadelphia

Air: $361

Lodging: $185/day = $925

Per diem M&IE: $64/day = $320 (GSA Philadelphia per diem)

Total: $1606



Tokyo

*Air: $1075 (web search for May 2009, conducted 7/25/08)

**Lodging: $111/day (rack rate, Toshi Center Hotel, single room) = $555 Per diem M&IE: $174/day (GSA Tokyo-City per diem) = $870

Total: $2500

Adjustments (see below): -$500 (conference hotel rate; adjusted per diem) Total adjusted: $2000


*Web searches for flights from JFK to Narita approximated a fare of $1285 (non-stop), while LAX to Tokyo was roughly $1100 (cheaper if you choose connecting flights).

**This rate is based on current prices for the Toshi Center Hotel. We have been working with the Japan Travel Bureau, which is estimating that lodging will be between $85.00 and $145.00 per night. Actual hotel costs could be as much as $26/day less for hotel (=$130) once the conference discount is applied.


It is also possible to eat well on very little money, even in Tokyo – 5000Y per day or even 10,000Y would be more than sufficient – bringing per diem down to $100/day. JIU’s offer to host the opening reception likely means wonderful free food on the first evening, too. JIU is located in central Tokyo, an area with many bars and restaurants so conference attendees will not be limited to restaurant hotels. Additionally, the JIU complex includes a cafeteria, so there will be affordable food on-site. The Society will try to provide as much food as possible at the conference.

We hope the details outlined here will help you assess the feasibility of attending SCMS in Tokyo this year. We are excited about the opportunities—new members, exposure to new scholarship, and new global connections—offered by our expansion into the Pacific Rim. We hope that you will consider attending what we feel will be a memorable and productive conference.


Sincerely,

SCMS Board of Directors