Welcome Message

I am pleased to announce that the Annual Meeting of the Japan Sports Orthopaedic Association 2027 (JSOA 2027) will be held for two days from June 17 (Thursday) to 18 (Friday), 2027 at the Sapporo Convention Center. We are highly honored to host this prestigious meeting, while feeling humbled to take on such an important role.

The Japan Sports Orthopaedic Association (JSOA) is an academic society established in 2023 through the merger of the Japanese Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (JOSSM) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Society of Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine (JOSKAS). JSOA 2027 is the fifth edition of the annual meeting of JSOA. Building on the traditions of its two predecessor societies, JSOA focuses on preventing sports injuries and disabilities and improving treatments through collaboration between orthopaedic surgeons and a diverse range of healthcare professionals, including doctors in other fields, physiotherapists, and athletic trainers. With the support of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the School of Medicine, Keio University and our alumni association, we, at the Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, are preparing for JSOA 2027 to ensure its success as an international academic forum.

The theme we have chosen for JSOA 2027 is “Shu Ha Ri: Be curious and aim higher while learning from predecessors.” Shu Ha Ri is the philosophy and attitude underlying the three stages of mastery in tea ceremony and martial arts, depicted in Rikyu Doka, a collection of poems written to convey the teachings of Sen no Rikyu, a tea master of the 16th century. Shu (obey) is the beginning stage where you are required to precisely follow the teachings of your instructor to learn established forms, manners and basics. At the Ha (detach) stage, you have gained some experience and undergone training, and start to add your own innovation to the basics learned from the instructor. At the final Ri (transcend) stage, you go beyond your instructor and develop your own approach. As such, the Shu Ha Ri concept encourages us to remain intellectually curious and have a research mindset of aiming for higher goals, building on the achievements of our predecessors. This theme represents our commitment to contributing to the progress of sports orthopaedics by offering meaningful opportunities for JSOA 2027 participants to share techniques and expertise.

For JSOA 2027, we will invite professionals from the sports sector, in addition to opinion leaders active in their respective fields in Japan and abroad, to facilitate fruitful discussions. In particular, we believe that the participation of young doctors in discussions will strongly drive the development of sports orthopaedics.

JSOA 2027 will take place in Sapporo, Hokkaido, for the second consecutive year following JSOA 2026 in August 2026. Without a rainy season, Hokkaido in June offers a pleasant early-summer climate when fresh green leaves are beautiful. There are many tourist attractions available only at this time of year, including the lavender fields in Furano and savory seasonal seafood. After a rewarding meeting with active discussions, why not take a weekend trip to Hokkaido’s tourist spots to enjoy the natural beauty and special delicacies?

Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the people for their generous support and cooperation in preparing for JSOA 2027. We will continue working hard to make the meeting a fruitful event for all the participants. We heartily look forward to your participation and presentation.