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Nobuyuki Sudo
Professor and Chair
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine
Graduate School of Medical Sciences
Kyushu University |
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| Dear Friends and Colleagues, |
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| It is a great pleasure to invite you to the 28th International Congress of Psychosomatic Medicine (ICPM 2026), which will take place in Fukuoka, Japan, from September 24 to 26, 2026. I’m Nobuyuki Sudo, the congress president, and I’m truly looking forward to welcoming you to our city. |
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| This will be the third time the ICPM is held in Japan, following the Kyoto congress in 1977 chaired by Professor Yujiro Ikemi, and the Kobe congress in 2006 co-chaired by Professors Tomifusa Kuboki and Chiharu Kubo. Both past events were wonderful opportunities to share the strengths and unique perspectives of Japanese psychosomatic medicine with the world. In 2026, we hope to continue this legacy and bring fresh energy and ideas from Asia to the global stage. |
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Our congress theme is:
"Revitalizing Psychosomatic Medicine: Asian Perspectives and Global Integration." |
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| Today, healthcare faces unprecedented complexity due to multilayered global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, widening social disparities, growing isolation, and an increasingly unstable international landscape marked by ongoing wars and conflicts. Moreover, we are seeing more patients with both physical illnesses and mental health issues. In this context, the mind–body connection is becoming more important than ever. |
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| New scientific insights—such as the gut–brain axis and interorgan communication—are opening exciting possibilities. Psychosomatic medicine is now playing an increasingly vital role in both clinical care and research. |
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| At ICPM 2026, we aim to bring together international experts to share ideas, build partnerships, and explore future directions for psychosomatic medicine across clinical practice, research, and education. |
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| Asia offers a rich heritage of healing practices, including Naikan therapy, Morita therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Yoga therapy, etc. We hope this congress will also help rediscover the value of these Asian approaches and bridge them with modern medicine. |
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| Fukuoka, our host city, is a vibrant and friendly place on the western edge of Japan, with a population of 1.6 million. It has long been a gateway to Asia and is known for its excellent access—just 10 minutes from the airport to the city center by subway. The city’s amazing food, lively urban culture, and warm hospitality will make your visit truly special. |
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| Fukuoka is also the birthplace of Japanese psychosomatic medicine. In 1963, Professor Yujiro Ikemi founded the country’s first Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at Kyushu University, which still plays a significant role in the field today. |
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| This ICPM will be a joint event with the 67th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine, bringing together people from across Japan and around the world. We’re preparing a diverse and engaging program—including keynote lectures, workshops, youth sessions, and cultural events. |
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| We hope that this meeting in Fukuoka will be a chance for all of us to learn together, connect with one another, and shape the future of psychosomatic medicine. |
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| I’m very much looking forward to seeing you in Fukuoka in 2026! |
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| Warm regards, |
