The 2017 joint meeting of MAPLL (Mental Architecture for Processing and Learning of Language) and TCP (Tokyo Conference on Psycholinguistics) ended earlier today. Here is what we heard from our contacts in Tokyo: “This weekend at MAPLL-TCP 2017 held in Tokyo, several UMass related scholars played an essential role for the success of the conference.  Emmanuel Chemla (semantics guru, 2014) and Florian Schwarz (2009 UMass PhD) were invited speakers. Yurie Hara (visitor, 2006-2007) and Shigeto Kawahara (2007 UMass PhD) were organizing committee members. Shigeto additionally gave a talk on the project to apply phonetic skills to help ALS patients.” In the picture from left to right: Yurie, Shigeto and his daughter, who “was not the happiest at that moment”, Florian, and Emmanuel.