The joint 12^th International Conference on Atomically Controlled Surfaces, Interfaces and Nanostructures (ACSIN-12) and the 21^th International colloquium on Scanning Probe Microscopy (ICSPM21) were held at Tsukuba International Congress Center (Epochal Tsukuba) in Japan from November 4 to 8, 2013.

The conference brought together scientists and engineers in the fields, such as condensed matter physics, surface physics, molecular physics, inorganic and organic chemistry, and biology.

Both ACSIN and ICSPM were organized originally by Thin Film and Surface Physics Division in The Japan Society of Applied Physics, but have been developed independently. The host country of ACSIN has been determined based on a policy of continental rotation among Asia, Europe and America every two years, while ICSPM has been held annually in Japan (once in Hawaii). This time, in consideration of further development of nanoscience and technology, the organizing committee has decided to hold these two conferences together to strengthen their relations and meet the needs of the times.

As an invited speaker, Volker Rose opened the Characterization and Instrumentation Session of the conference. In his talk he discussed the physical principles of Synchrotron X-ray Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (SXSTM) as well as the recent progress his team has made at Argonne National Laboratory.