Welcome Message

The 63rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery will be held over three days, from Thursday, June 24 to Saturday, June 26, 2027, at Karuizawa Prince Hotel West in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture.

This will be the first time for Okayama University to host this meeting since the 50th Annual Meeting, which was held in Okayama in 2014 under the leadership of Professor Shunji Sano, my predecessor. Owing also to Professor Sano’s outstanding international achievements, the meeting at that time welcomed as many as 28 invited speakers from overseas and became a truly international academic gathering. Its innovative program, which explored a single theme in depth from the perspectives of surgery, cardiology, and various healthcare professions, left a strong impression on many participants.

During my high school years, I devoted myself to soccer, while also becoming familiar with mountain climbing after being invited by friends. Although the summit could be seen clearly in the distance, it was not easy to reach. The higher I climbed, the more I came to understand the steepness of the path and the limits of my own ability. At the same time, however, I learned that climbing was not merely a struggle with oneself, but a collaborative effort with companions. Encouraging one another, supporting one another at times, and moving forward step by step—through this process, I came to realize that what truly matters is not who stands at the front, but with whom we climb.

I believe the same is true of medicine. Pediatric cardiology cannot be completed through the efforts of one person alone. Surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, anesthesiologists, nurses, clinical engineers, rehabilitation staff, as well as patients and their families—all are walking toward the same summit. Even when faced with difficult situations, we support one another, share our wisdom, and move forward together. It is through the accumulation of these efforts that truly strong teams are formed.

I believe that outstanding leaders are never created by individual strength alone. Excellent colleagues nurture excellent leaders, and those leaders, in turn, nurture new colleagues. It is this very cycle that supports the future of medicine.

With this belief in mind, we have chosen the theme of this meeting:
“Seize the Day, Hearts United”
— an expression of *Sekiin to Kyoshin*, cherishing time and uniting our hearts.

Time is limited. As the saying goes, “Time flies like an arrow.” Once a goal has been set, it is important to take the first step. No daily effort is ever wasted. I also believe that working together with colleagues, not only for one’s own achievements but also for the benefit of society as a whole, ultimately leads to the greatest growth.

To symbolize this message, the meeting poster depicts colleagues from multiple professions joining hands and continuing their climb toward the summit of Mt. Yarigatake, one of Nagano’s most renowned peaks. This image represents precisely the pediatric cardiovascular care that we face every day.

The environment surrounding pediatric cardiology has changed significantly in recent years, including the declining birthrate, improvements in the rate of fetal diagnosis, and the increasing number of patients reaching adulthood as a result of improved outcomes in childhood treatment. However, our mission—to protect the lives of children with congenital heart disease and continue to support them throughout their lives—will never change, no matter how times may change.

Looking ahead from childhood to adulthood and beyond, we must support these patients not only as healthcare professionals, but also together with patients, their families, and society as a whole. I hope that we will once again share this determination and hope through the passionate discussions at this meeting.

In addition, the JCK Asian Pacific Heart Forum 2027 will be held concurrently with this meeting. We expect participants not only from countries across Asia, but also from North America, New Zealand, and Australia, and hope that this meeting will serve as an international forum where we can discuss the future of pediatric cardiology from a broader perspective.

We chose Karuizawa as the venue not only because of my personal connection to Nagano, my home prefecture, but also because of our wish to welcome many participants from across Japan to this place, located near the center of the country. We also hope that, between stimulating discussions, participants will be able to find moments of calm and refreshment amid the rich natural surroundings.

We hope to make this meeting one filled with academic inspiration and warm smiles. For the future of our patients, and for our own future as well, we sincerely look forward to welcoming you in Karuizawa.

We would be deeply grateful for your participation and kind support.