Greetings for the 126th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society "Creation and Innovation"

  Osaka University  is pleased to host the 126th Annual Meeting  of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society（JOS）in Osaka. I am honored to serve as  President and work  with  Vice‒President Dr.  Akihiko  Sahori（President of Osaka Ophthalmologists  Association）and Chair  of the Program  Committee,  Prof.  Motohiro  Kamei（Aichi Medical  Univer- sity）. I would like  to express my  sincere  gratitude  to the directors,  councilors  and members  of the JOS,  as  well  as members of the Japan Ophthalmologists  Association. I would also like  to deeply thank staff  members of the JOS  Sec- retariat,  members of the Osaka Ophthalmologists  Association, alumni of the Department  of Ophthalmology  at Osaka University and many sponsoring companies.

  The JOS  annual  meeting  has  a  tradition  of having  a  meeting  theme. When  I considered  the  theme, my  first thoughts  were  the  words  of a  former  president,  Prof.  Tadamitsu  Kishimoto at  Osaka   University. He  told me that completely  new  ideas  would not emerge  without  discussions  between people. This conveys  the  spirit of Tekijuku, which was  established  in Osaka  in 1838 by Koan  Ogata,  a physician  and Rangaku scholar  in the late Edo  period, and is  the origin  of the Faculty of Medicine  at Osaka  University. I chose the theme“Creation and Innovation”with  the hope that gathering  together and discussing  matters  will  sow the seeds of new ideas and that the meeting will  chart the way  forward for junior  doctors and scientists.

  Prof. Oshika, University of Tsukuba, who is President of the JOS,  and Prof. Hotta,  Hamamatsu  University School of Medicine,  have  been invited  to give  a  Special  Lecture.  Invited  lectures  will  be given  by  Prof.  Wolf,  University  of Bern, and Prof.  Yamanaka, CiRA,  Kyoto University.  In  the Council  Designated  Lectures, Prof.  Tsutomu  Yasukawa, Nagoya  City   University, Prof.  Hiroshi Keino,  Kyorin  University, and Prof.  Koji Nishiguchi,   Nagoya  University,  will speak on the theme of“Innovation in diagnostic methods and treatments in ophthalmolgy”The Program Committee has planned 15 symposiums  covering cutting‒edge topics in various fields.  The president’s symposium  focuses on the theme of“Creation  and Innovation”and  has invited  leading experts  outside the ophthalmology field,  including  Prof. Hiroshi Ishiguro, Osaka University（Android）, Prof. Atsushi Kumanogo, Osaka University（Immunology）, Prof. Takanori Takebe, Tokyo Medical  and Dental  University（Organoid）, Prof. Hiroshi Nishiura, Kyoto University（Covid‒19）, and Prof. Hiroaki Miyata, Keio University（Data Science）to give presentations.

  We  also think that  general  presentations  and exhibitions  provide  the best  opportunity  for  the exchange  of ideas, leading to creation and innovation. We have already received more abstracts than usual and look forward to free and open discussions.  Additionally, there  will  be a variety of educational  programs,  including  Educational  Seminars and Subspecialty Sundays  to help you keep  up with  the latest  knowledge  in  a wide  range  of clinical  fields.  The  JOS  is promoting internationalization and preparing  many programs  with  overseas  speakers.

  The  meeting format  will  be in‒person plus on‒demand with  live  streaming  for  some sessions,  although we aim for a mainly  in‒person  event.  We  will  take thorough precautions  to prevent  the spread  of infections  and ensure  a safe meeting. We  sincerely look  forward to welcoming you at the 126th Annual  Meeting.  Thank you for  your  continued support.