ItisagreatpleasureforustopresentacollectionofpapersreadattheToyoichiTanaka MemorialSymposiumonGelsheldon10-12September2008inTokyo. ProfessorToyoichi TanakaofMIThasdevelopedgelscienceafterthediscoveryofvolumephasetransition, but unfortunately he passed away so early in 2000. His friends and co-workers decided to organizeasymposiumcommemoratingthe30thanniversaryforthediscoveryofthevolume phasetransitionin1978. ThesymposiumwasheldinastyleofFaradayDiscussions. FullpaperswritteninJapanese weresentbeforehandtoalltheparticipants, anddiscussionswereactiveafterashort(5min) presentationofeachpaper....