On March 2, 2010, the ALMA-Japan Antenna Nickname Selection Committee (chaired by Leiji Matsumoto) nicknamed the Japanese ALMA antennas “IZAYOI” after considerable discussions.
1．Selected nickname: IZAYOI
2．Points for selection:
　• It has a meaning related to the number of the Japanese antennas “16”.
　• It evokes the images of “night sky,” “astronomy,” and “universe.”
　• It is a beautiful, classical Japanese word.
3. Selection Committee
　Chairperson:
　　Leiji Matsumoto (cartoonist, Director General of the Young Astronauts Club Japan)
　Members:
　　Yasunori Matogawa (Deputy Director General of the Young Astronauts Club Japan)
　　Mariko Takahashi (science editor, Asahi Shimbun)
　　Masaki Tsurumi (General Manager of corporate advertising at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
　　Shoken Miyama (Director General, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)
　　Sachiko Okumura (ARC manager, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)

The campaign to nickname the Japanese ALMA antennas targeted young people aged 18 or younger. The purpose of the campaign is to foster a sense of affinity among children by offering an opportunity to nickname the Japanese ALMA antennas, which will be operated for the next 30 years.
The selection committee invited the ideas for a nickname from December 8, 2009 to February 14, 2010 and received 1829 submissions. The nickname “IZAYOI” was proposed by 28 people, which was the second largest number of submissions.
ALMA consists of 66 or more antennas in total, and Japan is responsible for the development and manufacture of 16 antennas. “IZAYOI” is a classical Japanese word which means the moon on the 16th day or on the 16th night in the lunar calendar. While the moon on the 15th day is a full moon, the moon on the 16th day is a moon slightly waning.

Among 28 people who submitted the nickname of IZAYOI, one person was chosen by lottery as a winner of the prize (Mitsubishi 37-inch liquid television with a built-in blu-ray disc+ HDD).
Winner of the prize: Riku Watanabe (sixth-grade student of an elementary school in Niigata)
The following presents will be given to those chosen by lottery from all the participants in the campaign. Presents will be sent without prior announcement.
　・ Book “ALMA Telescope” written by Masato Ishiguro
　・ YAC neck strap
　・ Transparent file holder with special illustrations by Reiji Matsumoto.

At present, five Japanese antennas have been assembled at the AOS (Array Operations Site at 5000-m altitude) and at the OSF (Operations Support Facility at 2900-m altitude).
We appreciate your continued support for ALMA and Japanese antennas “IZAYOI.”