JDDW President's Address

Japan Digestive Disease Week, or “JDDW,” was first held in Kobe in 1993. Ten thousand people participated in the exciting event, which offered the possibility of gastroenterological academic societies meeting together in the same room. The number of participants in the event subsequently increased, with as many as 19,000 people participating in JDDW 2009 in Kyoto. JDDW is furthermore the largest gathering of academics in the country.

The primary objectives of JDDW are to provide an opportunity for academics to give comprehensive, organized presentations on and discuss digestive apparatus in general. Objectives however include making a social contribution through various activities.

The colossal size of the event requires all participating academic societies to cooperate in management. The event had been primarily directed by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society and Japan Society of Hepatology, but the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery joined in 2008 and will begin participating beginning with JDDW 2010 to realize a more complete organization of gastroenterological academic societies.

As a measure to promote participation in the event, the participation fee will be reduced beginning with JDDW 2010. Efforts must continue to eliminate waste in management and to realize a more fruitful academic congress. We therefore ask your cooperation.

Yutaka Atomi
JDDW President