Computer simulation is now widely recognized as a powerful tool and
useful method at the current stage of research in space plasma physics.
The expected role of computer simulation is to bridge the existing gap
between theories and experiments/observations and to give a profound
physical insight into highly tangled and nonlinearly coupled space
plasma phenomena. One of the goals of space plasma physics in 1980's and
1990's is to elucidate the quantitative causal relationships of global
and local energy flows in space plasma environment and establish the
space plasma physics via cooperative studies among three important
elements of observations, theories and computer simulations. Based on
such recognition, Dr. M. Ashour-Abdalla (UCLA/USA), Dr. R. Gendrin
(CNET/FRANCE) and both of us met together at the 20th General Assembly
of URSI at Washington D. C. in 1981 to discuss what we should do and
what we could do, reaching a conclusion that it is time to establish an
International School of Space Simulations (ISSS). The objectives of the
ISSS thus organized are firstly to educate and stimulate graduate
students and young sCientists, secondly to exchange information on
updated simulation techniques and thirdly to have mutual discussions
among observational, theoretical and simulational scientists in the
field of space physics. The first ISSS were organized by Prof. P.
Coleman, Prof. T. Obayashi, Dr. H. Okuda in addition to the above four
members. The first ISSS was held at Kansai Seminar House in Kyoto from
Nov. I to Nov. 12, 1982.