I have been appointed to take on the role of president of the 74th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Hematology (JSH2012). The Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place over a three-day period from October 19 (Fri) to 21 (Sun), 2012, at Kyoto International Conference Center.

It was in April 1996 that my predecessor, Prof. Yasusada Miura (currently Professor Emeritus of Jichi Medical University) presided over the 58th Annual Meeting in Utsunomiya. Looking back to that time it now seems very distant, given how the JSH has grown so significantly in the intervening years. Since that time we have watched the JSH develop against the backdrop of various events, including the integration with the Japanese Society of Clinical Hematology, the promotion of internationalization, and the emergence of many novel drugs for intractable hematological disorders. We have now grown to the point where more than 5,000 delegates attend the Annual Meeting, meaning that it can now only be held in a major city

On the other hand, in recent years the number of young physicians specializing in hematology and pediatric hematology has been decreasing and the situation is particularly serious in regional areas. The vitalization of the younger generation of specialists is something that will greatly energize efforts to attract fresh and eager talent and I believe that the JSH Annual Meeting has an important role to play in this regard. We are therefore devising various means to make the Annual Meeting more appealing to the younger generation of physicians and encourage their participation.

The main theme of JSH2012 is “Toward the Development of Science-Based Medicine” and in the Presidential Symposium we aim to seek out a future direction for the development of medicine. Through an ongoing process of internationalization our cooperative efforts with the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the European Hematology Association (EHA) maintain a steady course and this year we will be hearing Special Lectures from the presidents of the two organizations, as well as holding two Joint Symposia. Our next important challenge is to engage further in collaborative efforts with our Asian colleagues. Building from the base of the Asian Workshop that was held last year, we have received recommendations for guest speakers from the hematology societies in Asia, and this year we will launch an Asian Joint Symposium. In addition, the Panel Discussion this year is scheduled to include an introduction to the “Guidelines for the Treatment of Hematological Malignancies (tentative)” into which the JSH has devoted so much time and energy. We have also newly planned for Special Lectures from preeminent figures, as well as for a Commemorative Lecture by the recipient of the first-ever JSH Award. The series of Educational Lectures, which is always highly evaluated, is planned to be further enhanced this year and we are also giving consideration to using the Main Hall for these, following on from the precedent set last year. We are also planning small-group Morning Discussion sessions with experts on the frontlines of medicine, in addition to which, consideration is being given to various special programs, such as a Meet-the-Professional session, featuring eminent and pioneering hematologists. We expect that these special programs will be particularly beneficial for young physicians.

As you can appreciate, the program this year is fuller than ever before. By introducing the latest conference operating system we aim to enable delegates to efficiently organize their participation in the meeting, using i-Phones and i-Pads to create personally tailored schedules and abstracts.

I would like to think that the program we are preparing is a rich and engaging one that will make it difficult for delegates to tear themselves away from the proceedings, but I hope that following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting you will also have time to enjoy the autumnal beauty of Kyoto.

As we head towards the opening of what promises to be an appealing Annual Meeting, all the members of the JSH2012 Program Committee are working diligently on preparations. I sincerely hope that this year too we can benefit from the participation and generous support of many of our members.