On behalf of the Volcanological Society of Japan, the Organizing Committee invites the international scientific community to participate in the IAVCEI Scientific Assembly to be held in Kagoshima, Japan from July 20 to 24, 2013. The main theme of the conference will be “Forecasting Volcanic Activity: Reading and translating the messages of nature for society.” The conference will cover the complete range of IAVCEI research interests, ranging from planetary volcanology and chemistry of the Earth’s Interior to eruption dynamics, and will also include a practical understanding of the environmental and social impact of eruptions. We will offer mid-conference field trips to visit nearby volcanoes, as well as pre- and post-conference field trips to visit a variety of volcanoes and volcanic environments in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other Asian countries. Kagoshima city with 600,000 inhabitants faces Sakurajima volcano, which is at present exhibiting repeated vulcanian eruptions within a background of continuous degassing. Participants can see the erupting volcano from the conference site. International tourists come to Kagoshima for its original culture, renowned historic places, food and hospitality. The main conference venue is the Kagoshima Public Access Center, which is within walking distance of the city center. Kagoshima is an altogether appropriate place to host the IAVCEI Scientific Assembly in 2013.