Welcome Message

Dear colleagues and friends,

I am pleased to announce that the Japan Sports Orthopaedic Association (JSOA) 2023 conference will be held in Hiroshima, Japan at the Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima and the Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center from June 29 to July 1, 2023.

This will be the first conference for the new association that was established to further develop the domain, through strategic re-structuring of two associations, the Japanese Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (JOSSM) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Society of Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine (JOSKAS), which have made significant contributions over many years to the orthopaedic sports medicine domain.

Unification of associations related to orthopaedic sports medicine has been a longstanding aspiration, and the new JSOA represents the fruits of the major efforts and cooperation by many doctors and medical professionals. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to everyone concerned. Furthermore, I am honored that this commemorative inaugural JSOA conference will be held in Hiroshima. All members of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hiroshima University, along with alumni, are committed to putting forth our utmost efforts to progress the preparations, fully incorporating everyone’s ideas and opinions. We would be grateful for your continued cooperation.

The conference theme is “‘WA’ – Legacy and Innovation in Sports Orthopaedics –.” The Japanese concept of “WA” is broad and has several significant meanings, including “2 distinct entities fit together in harmony,” “coming together peacefully,” or “cooperation based on mutual respect.” On this occasion, we can truly say that this new, single association, formed from JOSSM and JOSKAS that have supported the development of Japan’s orthopaedic sports medicine for many decades, embodies the spirit of “WA.” While continuing to carry on, transmit and preserve each association’s history and achievements, we aim to realize a scientific conference that will be bursting with innovation, the kind of conference that will serve to pioneer a new future for sports orthopaedics. “WA,” which forms the Japanese word for “Peace,” also expresses our ardent desire to disseminate academic activities and results to the global community from Hiroshima, the City of Peace, considering the current volatile global situation.

At present, we have already started to plan the conference program. We are entrusting the future of the JSOA and the success of this conference to our members, in particular to the dreams and passion of the young doctors who will be tasked with leading the orthopaedic sports domain into the future. I hope to have your cooperation to ensure that many colleagues gather in Hiroshima and actively participate, resulting in a fruitful conference.

Hiroshima is famous for the “torii” gate to Itsukushima Shrine, and the Atomic Bomb Dome, symbol of peace, drawing many visitors from Japan and overseas. Just a short journey away is the “Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road” that connects Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture with Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture. Today, this cycling course has gained popularity among avid cyclists, as the “Cyclists’ Mecca.” Hiroshima is blessed with geography that affords the bounty of the land, sea and mountains, and attendees will enjoy savoring the area’s wide variety of cuisine. In addition, there are plenty of local boutique sakes, as Hiroshima is one of Japan’s “Big 3” sake producing regions.

I look forward to welcoming you to JSOA 2023 in Hiroshima!