The 108th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology will be held during the three days from May 24 through May 26, 2012 at the Sapporo Convention Center and the adjacent Sapporo Business Innovation Center.

The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology is Japan’s largest academic organization concerning psychiatric medicine and treatment, with as many as 15,000 members. It is dealing with many issues in order to respond to the increase, diversification, and complexity of psychiatric care needs. In recent years, amid drastic societal changes due to globalization and an aging population with a declining birthrate, issues have arisen such as child abuse, impaired development, and substance use disorder, as well as an increase in cases of depression and resulting suicide, and an increase of people suffering from dementia. In addition, it has also become necessary to deal with psychological issues brought about by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Five to six thousand people have participated in the society’s recent annual meetings, and they actively brought up and discussed the above issues. We believe that most recently we have been trying to consider issues even more thoroughly by collaborating with many related societies and holding joint symposiums. We have also been actively interacting with young psychiatrists from other Asian countries in order to respond to the trend of globalization.

In order to actively take on such recent trends of annual meetings, we have made the theme of the 108th annual meeting “Pursuit of Diversity in Psychiatric Care.” As well as holding symposiums through collaboration with a wide range of related academic societies, including psychobiological academic organizations, we would also like to work with groups such as the Japanese Society of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and shed light on fields that have not been given much attention thus far, such as “training courses on gender identity disorder.” Also, in order to respond to globalization, we would like to make even more active efforts, to expand interactions with young psychiatrists from other Asian countries, and to consider inviting more researchers and clinicians from other countries than in previous years together with the society’s international committee. In addition, we will respect and take on the “daily life perspective” that was brought up at the 107th annual meeting, and also actively bring up issues such as regional networks. It is much appreciated if members would actively apply for public symposiums in accordance with the theme of this annual meeting and offer opinions concerning things such as plans for educational and special lectures and psychiatric training courses.

Sapporo is a city that has inherited a pioneer spirit. I hope that the 108th annual meeting will take on the previous spirit of reform and serve as a starting point for a new era that is vibrant and full of pioneer spirit.