Masao Tanaka, MD, PhD, FACS President and Congress Chairman International Association of Pancreatology Professor and Chairman Department of Surgery and Oncology Graduate School of Medical Sciences Kyushu University Dear Colleagues, 　On behalf of the Council of the International Association of Pancreatology, it is our great pleasure to invite you to participate in the joint meeting of the 14th Biennial Congress of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) and the 41st Annual Congress of the Japan Pancreas Society (JPS) to be held in Fukuoka, Japan, from July 11th through 13th, 2010. 　Located at the gateway of the Kyushu Island, Fukuoka is easily accessible by air, sea, road and rail, and has long been a center of cultural, political, and economical interactions in East Asia with its unique mixture of natural, historical, and cultural charms. Fukuoka has all sorts of attractions and facilities to make your stay fantastic and memorable. The climate in Fukuoka in July is hot but the congress venue and hotels are air-conditioned very well. 　The congress venue "Fukuoka International Congress Center" is located only 15 minutes away from Fukuoka Airport and only 10 minutes away from bullet train (Shinkansen) Hakata Station by taxi. If you take a taxi, please prepare a memo indicating "Fukuoka Kokusai (International) Kaigijo (Congress Center)" to have your driver understand. They know English names of all hotels in Fukuoka, but please be careful to speak slowly and clearly. 　We are doing our utmost to provide you with not only exciting scientific events but also the most enjoyable social programs. As there will be a big traditional summer festival in Fukuoka right during the meeting period, you can enjoy this as well. The traditional summer festival of the old parts of the Fukuoka city called Hakata is characterized by its 768-year-long history. This festival begins on July 1st and in progress during the period of two weeks toward the climax on July 15th, which will be fun. In the afternoon of the second day of the meeting (July 12th) you will be able to enjoy the time race rehearsal starting at 15:59 p.m., and on the last day of the meeting (starting at 15:30 p.m. on July 13th) all registrants will get pleasure from all moving decorations promenading on the street from the old town Hakata to the new town Fukuoka over the bridge crossing the Nakagawa River. If you have time to stay a little longer, please join the most famous climax of the festival in the very early morning of July 15, starting one minute before 5:00 a.m. at the big shrine KUSHIDA in the midst of Hakata. This is a time race contest run by all the decorated floats moved by hundreds of people in a traditional fashion to win the championship. 　I really hope you enjoy your stay and Japanese hospitality in Fukuoka. Looking forward to welcoming you, your family and your guests in July, 2010. Akimasa Nakao, MD, PhD, FACS President The 41st Annual Meeting of the Japan Pancreas Society Professor and Chairman Department of Gastroenterological Surgery Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine The 41st Annual Meeting of the Japan Pancreas Society ―From Japan to the World― 　The 41st Annual Meeting of the Japan Pancreas Society will be held for three days on July 11-13, 2010. It will be a joint meeting with the 14th Meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology. I have been involved with the Society since it was called the Japan Pancreas Study Association, and have learned much about pancreatic diseases from the Society. It is therefore an honor for me to be able to host this Meeting. The Japan Pancreas Society has more than 2,800 members, and is one of the largest research groups focusing mainly on pancreatic diseases in the world. Japan has provided the world much outstanding research on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of cystic pancreatic tumors and pancreatic cancer, one of the most difficult of all cancers to treat, as well as autoimmune pancreatitis and other diseases. 　The 41st Annual Meeting will be held jointly with the 14th Meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology, making this an unparalleled opportunity to present to the world many of the outstanding findings on pancreatic disease in Japan. Presentations will be in English as a rule. The Meeting will be held in Fukuoka rather than Nagoya, and with the cooperation of everyone in the Japan Pancreas Society. I look forward to also making the Meeting of the International Association of Pancreatology a great success.