In computing history, which programming language was chosen for Japan’s Fifth-Generation Computer Systems (FGCS) project to support logic programming and knowledge representation?

Introduction / Context:
The Japanese Fifth-Generation Computer Systems (FGCS) initiative focused on knowledge processing and artificial intelligence. The project emphasized logic programming, parallelism, and symbolic reasoning. Selecting a language aligned with these goals was central to the project’s research agenda.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• FGCS prioritized logic inference and knowledge bases.
• We compare general-purpose languages with those designed for symbolic and logical computation.
• The correct answer should match the project’s conceptual framework.

Concept / Approach:
PROLOG (PROgramming in LOGic) encodes facts and rules, allowing inference via resolution and unification. This directly supports declarative knowledge representation and query-driven computation—exactly what FGCS explored. While LISP is popular in AI, FGCS specifically pursued logic programming with PROLOG as a cornerstone.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical summaries of FGCS cite PROLOG dialects and dataflow/parallel logic machines as central topics, confirming this selection.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Equating 'AI language' solely with LISP; logic programming was a distinct research path.

Final Answer:
PROLOG