From 1 to 4 March, the ‘Japan-India Mathematics Symposium on L-Functions and Multiple Zeta Functions’ took place in a classroom in Building No. 6 at Sophia University.

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Bilateral Exchange Program selected this joint research project for funding in fiscal year 2025. The project was planned to run for two years. A total of 12 principal researchers are involved in the project, with six from five universities in India and six from six universities in Japan. Our university along with Aichi Institute of Technology, Kyushu University, Institute of Science Tokyo, Kindai University, and Rikkyo University are the universities representing Japan. The project aims to use combinatorial perspectives to achieve two things: first, to advance individual research areas such as various multiple zeta functions, special values, and modular L-functions; and second, to elucidate the interrelationships between these theories.

A four-day research symposium was held at our university to mark the end of the 2025 fiscal year, which was one year after the project was approved. The event saw lively discussions on research take place.

We organized a poster session that featured 21 posters, with a focus on fostering young researchers. In addition, to strengthen the bonds and friendship among researchers, a tea ceremony was arranged in collaboration with the Sophia University Omote-senke tea ceremony club.

The event was attended by around 70 people, including mathematics researchers, as well as graduate and undergraduate students from Japan and India. Exchanges of research findings took place between 11 universities from the two countries, allowing participants to consider the advances in mathematical research. From our university, Professors Maki Nakasuji, Hiroshi Tsunogai and Masao Tsuzuki from the Department of Information and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology participated, together with graduate and undergraduate students.

This bilateral exchange program is scheduled to continue through the 2026 academic year, with joint research being an integral part of it.