This volume consists of ten original papers written by experts in various aspects of low dimensional topology. The topics covered by them include knots and links, 3-dimensional hyperbolic geometry, conformally flat structures on 3-manifolds, Floer homology, the geometry and topology of 4-manifolds. These are among the main subjects in current topology which is now making rapid progress. The editors hope that this volume would also serve as a quick up-to-date introduction to these areas.

Related to this volume, three symposiums were held during 1987-1989, which were supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Cooperative Research, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.