It is my great honor to welcome you to the 72nd Annual Autumn Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pathology (JSP), which will be held on October 8–9, 2026, at the Fukuoka International Congress Center in Fukuoka, Japan. I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome not only members of the JSP but also all those engaged in pathology and related disciplines to our beautiful city.

This meeting will uphold the mission of the JSP to advance pathology and promote its contribution to society. At the same time, it represents a historic occasion, as it will be held in conjunction with the International Academy of Pathology (IAP) Congress, taking place in Fukuoka during the same period. We anticipate that this unique joint meeting will bring together pathologists and researchers from Japan and around the world, providing an exceptional opportunity to envision the future of pathology through international collaboration.

The traditional plenary sessions of the Autumn Meeting- including the Academic Research Award Lecture, Case Research Award Lecture, and Special Lecture on Diagnostic Pathology- will continue to serve as highlights of the scientific program, offering participants the opportunity to learn from outstanding achievements at the forefront of pathology.

For this joint meeting with the IAP Congress, we have chosen the shared theme:“Vision for the Future”.

This theme reflects our determination not only to address the many challenges facing pathology today, but also to envision and actively shape the future of our discipline and of medicine itself.

Pathology is currently undergoing remarkable transformation. Rapid advances in genomic medicine, digital pathology, artificial intelligence (AI), spatial transcriptomics, and other molecular pathology technologies are revolutionizing not only diagnostic pathology but also our understanding of disease mechanisms. At the same time, we must continue addressing important challenges, including the education and training of future pathologists, strengthening international collaboration, and communicating the indispensable value of pathology to society.

"Vision for the Future" is therefore also a message to pathologists worldwide- an invitation to consider together how pathology can continue to contribute to the future of medicine and healthcare during this era of unprecedented change. Through this meeting, we hope to foster the next generation of pathologists and researchers, promote the integration of diagnostic and experimental pathology, strengthen international partnerships, and explore how cutting-edge technologies, including AI and genomic medicine, can shape the future of our field.

As one of the signature events embodying this theme, we will host a Joint Symposium on Molecular Pathology organized by the JSP and the IAP. International leaders in personalized medicine, genomics and epigenomics, spatial biology, AI-assisted pathology, and other rapidly evolving fields will share their expertise and discuss the future direction of pathology. We hope this symposium will provide new perspectives that further strengthen the connections between pathology in Japan and the global pathology community.

Fukuoka has long served as Japan's gateway to Asia and has played a central role in international exchange. The city offers a rich cultural heritage, beautiful natural surroundings, and outstanding cuisine. In addition to stimulating scientific discussions, we hope you will enjoy the warm hospitality that makes Fukuoka such a memorable destination.

The JSP Meeting has not held an on-site scientific meeting in Fukuoka since its Annual Spring Meeting in 2003. We are therefore making every effort to ensure that this meeting will be both scientifically rewarding and an important milestone in shaping the future of pathology.

I sincerely look forward to welcoming you to Fukuoka in the autumn of 2026.