Kokuyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City; President: Kunihide Kuroda) will release the new issue of its research publication WORKSIGHT, titled "WORKSIGHT [WORKSIGHT] No. 30: The New Middle Ages" (Published by Kokuyo; Sales by Gakugei Shuppan), at bookstores nationwide and online retailers starting June 28 (Sun). Photo by Hironori Kim 1. Feature Empire, Church, manor, knightly orders, guilds, monasteries... The Middle Ages was an era in which complex and intricate networks of authority overlapped in multiple layers. We are not simply referring to a chronological period between the 5th and 15th centuries, but rather using the term "Middle Ages" to describe a fragmented way of existence. In a society where social consensus is breaking down and we are tossed about by uncertain information, we may already be living in a "New Middle Ages." This issue attempts to reinterpret the present through the lens of the "Middle Ages." Umberto Eco, writer and semiotician, wrote in the 1970s that modern society was moving toward a "New Middle Ages." In this issue's opening feature, media aesthetician Mitsuhiro Takeda decodes Eco's prophecy and traces 16 key concepts to explore the "New Middle Ages." Next, we present a range of contemporary phenomena that echo the medieval past, including "The Folklore of Star Reading," a conversation between psychological astrologer Ryuji Kagami and folklorist Akihiro Hatanaka; a glimpse into the hidden world of modern witches; a documentary on armored knights participating in medieval battle sports; and an interview with medieval games researcher Dr. Robert Horton. Additionally, international political scientist Akihiko Tanaka re-examines a multipolar world, reflecting on his own 1996 book "The New 'Middle Ages,'" now 30 years since its publication. This richly curated issue offers diverse perspectives for re-examining the modern world we live in. We invite you to read it. 2. Book Details Title: "WORKSIGHT [WORKSIGHT] No. 30: The New Middle Ages" E