It is our great honor to announce that the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Fukui, will host the 126th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The meeting will be held from May 27 to May 30, 2025, at Pacifico Yokohama North. For our department, this is the first time we have been granted this privilege, making it a remarkable achievement as the first new medical university to take on this responsibility. Our team is working tirelessly to prepare for a fruitful and engaging meeting.

This year’s Society’s Honorary Lectures will be delivered by Professor Akihiro Homma (Hokkaido University), speaking on “The New Era in the Treatment of Sinonasal Cancer,” and Professor Tetsuo Ikezono (Saitama Medical University), who will discuss “Pioneering the Future of Neurotology Practice via Cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP) Testing.” For Clinical Lectures, Professor Mikio Suzuki (University of the Ryukyus) will address “The Diversity of Human Papillomavirus Infections in ENT Diseases and Treatment Strategies,” and Professor Michihiko Sone (Nagoya University) will present “New Developments in Pathophisiology of Inner Ear Disorders Through Imaging Analysis.” These lectures will reflect the culmination of years of intense and dedicated research by these esteemed professors. We invite attendees to fully engage in the dynamic and thought-provoking nature of these presentations on-site.

While it would have been ideal to host the meeting in Fukui, logistical challenges led to the selection of Pacifico Yokohama North, located just outside Tokyo, marking a return to eastern Japan after five years. Fukui is known as the “Dinosaur Kingdom,” with the prefecture actively promoting tourism through its association with dinosaurs. Significant discoveries of dinosaur fossils, including the Fukuisaurus and Fukuiraptor, have made this possible. Reflecting this heritage, in 2023 we held the 86th Annual Meeting of the Society of Practical Otolaryngology based on the theme of “Discoveries.” For the 126th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, we chose “SHINKA” as our mascot and theme. “SHINKA” is a spirited phoenix-like dinosaur emerging from Fukui and descending on Yokohama. The phoenix is also the symbol of Fukui City.

As the theme of this meeting, the word "SHINKA" encompasses multiple meanings, such as evolution, deeper understanding, expression of true value, self-improvement, passionate endeavor, divine inspiration, and the distinction between the genuine and an imitation. We hope this meeting will inspire attendees to discover their own SHINKA.

Our Special Lectures represent a topic close to our heart—how to translate the results of basic research into clinical applications. We will feature Professor Masayuki Amagai (Keio University), who will speak on “Unveiling the Future of Skin Immunological Disorders: Bridging Basic Research and Clinical Application,” highlighting highly regarded initiatives of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) in immune-allergic practical research. We will also host Professor Yoshitsugu Kobayashi (Hokkaido University Museum), a renowned paleontologist, who will present “Frontiers in Dinosaur Research in 2025: Messages from Dinosaurs.” Professor Kobayashi, a native of Fukui, has conducted groundbreaking excavations worldwide, including those in Fukui, and is affectionately known as "Dinosaur Kobayashi."

The annual meeting will feature seven symposia, including two joint sessions with other medical disciplines, four panel discussions, and four international symposia. These include collaborations with the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Confederation of European Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, as well as the International Symposium on Eosinophilic Sinusitis, organized by the Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE), a Japanese research support program, and the Rhinology-international Symposium, the Otology International Symposium held jointly with Korea and Thailand, and the Head and Neck International Symposium in collaboration with Korea. Educational programs include seven symposia, eight surgical seminars, seven future visions from the Society, and three cross-disciplinary courses. A distinctive feature of this year’s meeting is its emphasis on international collaboration. As with last year, we will invite 70 international travel grant awardees from institutes mainly in Southeast Asia to present in the international sessions. We also plan to have a networking event to foster a valuable exchange among the travel grant awardees and Japanese participants outside of the meeting venue on the first day.

With the diminishing impact of COVID-19, we are thrilled to restore the vibrancy of in-person gatherings. Attendees can enjoy social events, such as Happy Hour from 4pm, featuring Fukui craft beers, and a convivial banquet showcasing Fukui’s renowned sake, known for its refined and elegant taste. Additionally, a nostalgic appearance by a legendary idol featured in past Advertising Council Japan’s advertisements will enhance the festive atmosphere.

We look forward to welcoming you to this memorable meeting and hope you will enjoy all it has to offer.

Sincerely,

Professor Shigeharu Fujieda
Congress President, 126th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Fukui