Shinji Tanaka, MD, PhD, FJGES, FASGE

As we welcome the beginning of 2026, I would like to extend my greetings to all of you.

Since the implementation of the work-style reform for physicians in April 2024, clinical practice has faced significant challenges due to the shortage of medical manpower. In addition, soaring prices, particularly of high-cost pharmaceuticals and medical devices, as well as rising personnel expenses have made hospital management extremely difficult. Many are paying close attention to this year’s revision of medical service fees. Meanwhile, nearly six years have passed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, and everyday social activities have largely returned to pre-pandemic norms. While some hospitals still require masks to prevent in-hospital transmission, we can say that the pandemic has essentially ended in society. Under these circumstances, academic meetings have mostly returned to their pre-pandemic style, with lively face-to-face discussions and active exchanges both inside and outside the venue, although some still incorporate hybrid or on-demand formats. Direct personal interaction remains extremely important.

Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (JGES), with a membership of 35,224 as of November 6, 2025, faces numerous challenges, starting with the development of the Board-certified Endoscopist System. Among them, we are placing special emphasis on the continued advancement of internationalization initiatives, strengthening JGES’s global leadership, and supporting the career development of women endoscopists. These efforts are being pursued steadily with the collective commitment of our directors and with the cooperation of our members.

Last year, the 109th Congress of JGES (May 9–11, 2025) was held in Sapporo under the leadership of Congress President Dr. Hiro-o Yamano, with the main theme of “Passion, Ambition and Dreams,” and was a great success, drawing over 8,100 on-site and on-demand participants in total. The 49th JGES Seminar, held on September 21, 2025 in Nagoya and led by Dr. Kunio Kasugai, was conducted in a face-to-face format with on-demand streaming, and was also highly successful with 2,281 participants. The 110th Congress of JGES (JDDW 2025), October 30–November 1, 2025, was held in Kobe under Congress President Dr. Kiyohito Tanaka in a hybrid + on-demand format, with 8,234 participants on-site and 19,136 participants for JDDW overall as of November 1, 2025. The venue was filled with great enthusiasm from attendees.

The 1st JGES International (official international congress of JGES), established to further promote JGES’s internationalization and global leadership, was held with Congress President Dr. Haruhiro Inoue (Vice-President: Dr. Hironori Yamamoto) on September 5–6, 2025, at the Toshi Center Hotel in Tokyo. The congress included live demonstrations and hands-on seminars and concluded with great success. More than 400 abstracts from 45 countries/regions (approximately two-thirds from overseas) were submitted, and the event drew over 1,000 participants, creating an exceptionally vibrant atmosphere. I am truly delighted that the inaugural JGES International was such a huge success, and I express my sincere appreciation to Congress President Dr. Inoue and all those involved.
In addition, Women Endoscopists for Global Exchange and Career Advancement (WEGECA), a newly launched international activity under the Women Endoscopists Career Support Committee, aims to promote and support the overseas activities of women endoscopists. The First Assembly of WEGECA, organized by Chair Dr. Mayo Tanabe in collaboration with Women in Endoscopy (WIE), the Women in Gastroenterology Network Asia Pacific (WIGNAP), and others, was held on the second evening of JGES International and was a great success. Furthermore, the Second Assembly of WEGECA, chaired by Dr. Reiko Ashida, was held successfully on the final day of JDDW 2025. Through these developments, I strongly feel that JGES is steadily advancing its internationalization.

Regarding JGES publications, under the guidance of Director Dr. Takayuki Matsumoto, continued growth is anticipated for our English journals Digestive Endoscopy (Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Masayuki Kitano) and its sister journal DEN Open (Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Takao Itoi). At the end of last year, the English edition of Gastroenterological Endoscopy Handbook was completed, and we look forward to its contribution to future international educational activities. Meanwhile, our Japanese journal has also become increasingly substantial thanks to the dedicated efforts of Director Dr. Ichiro Yasuda and Editor-in-Chief Dr. Shiro Oka. We hope that members will make good use of both the English and Japanese journals, each fulfilling its respective role, for information dissemination and the education of younger endoscopists.

This year, the 111th Congress of JGES will be held in Yokohama on May 8–10 under Congress President Dr. Shomei Ryozawa; the 50th JGES Seminar will take place in Matsue in a face-to-face + on-demand format on September 27 led by Dr. Toshiharu Ishihara; and the 112th Congress of JGES (JDDW 2026, November 5–7) will be held in Kobe under Congress President Dr. Ryu Ishihara. In addition, the 2nd JGES International will be held in Tokyo on September 11–12 under Congress President Dr. Hironori Yamamoto (Vice-President: Dr. Takao Itoi). WEGECA assemblies will also continue to be held. This year, the Third Assembly of WEGECA will be organized by Chair Dr. Hitomi Minami. We look forward to the participation and active discussions among many members.

Due to space limitations, I am unable to cover all of our activities here, but we will continue our dedicated efforts for the further development of JGES throughout this year. I would like to sincerely ask for the continued cooperation and support of all our members.

 

New Year’s remarks 2026 (Japanese)