Special Issue

The special issue shall be stipulated as follows.

 

Definition

A Special Issue is a collection of articles focused on a specific academic theme. While it is typically based on proceedings of international symposium, other thematic collections may also be accepted with prior approval.

 

Proposal and Approval

All Special Issues must be proposed in advance and approved by the Editorial Board. The proposal should include the theme, editorial policy, expected number of articles, and publication schedule.

 

Appointment of Special Issue Editor

A Special Issue Editor shall be appointed by the Editorial Board. The Editor must have sufficient expertise in the relevant field and be approved by the Board.

 

Peer Review

All manuscripts submitted to a Special Issue must undergo peer review equivalent to that of regular issues. The Special Issue Editor is responsible for managing the review process and reporting decisions to the Editorial Board.

 

Reviewer Selection

Reviewers shall be nominated by the Special Issue Editor and approved by the Editorial Board. Reviewers must be qualified in the relevant field and free from conflicts of interest.

 

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and the Special Issue Editor must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. The Editorial Board reserves the right to make decisions based on such disclosures.

 

Publication

Special Issues will be published on the journal's official platform (e.g., J-STAGE) with standard bibliographic information (volume, issue, DOI, etc.).

 

Frequency and Oversight

To maintain academic integrity, the number of Special Issues shall be limited in accordance with the journal's annual publication plan. The Editorial Board is responsible for ensuring appropriate frequency and quality control.