Subaru Telescope is Japan's advanced national astronomical research facility located near the summit of the dormant volcano of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The location affords a high percentage of clear nights and excellent atmospheric stability, combined with low overhead water vapor that greatly improves the quality of infrared observations. The telescope is designed to work efficiently with both visible and infrared light. Subaru is the Japanese word for the Pleiades star cluster (the Seven Sisters). It also means “get together” or “come together,” appropriate for a facility that has united the Japanese scientists and is being offered for use by the international astronomy community.