NAGOYA, JAPAN, NAGOYA CONGRESS CENTER
Words of welcome
WELCOME BY THE CONGRESS PRESIDENT
It is with great pleasure and honour, that I, as Congress President, invite you to the XXth Regional Congress of the ISBT, Asia, which will be held November 14-18, 2009, in Nagoya, Japan.
With its two million inhabitants, confluence of major industries, and extensive international connections, Nagoya is the fourth biggest city in Japan (after Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka). Located in the exact centre of the country, and simultaneously of the main Honshu Island, Nagoya lies within easy reach of both Tokyo and Kyoto, 100 and 40 minutes’ ride on the Shinkansen bullet train, respectively.
This area, Aichi, has a long and notable history which congress participants may enjoy discovering. In the 16th century, it produced three renowned feudal lords, including Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and “Shogun” Ieyasu Tokugawa, who successfully ruled Japan during the Edo era. We in Aichi are extremely proud of these three heroes as well as heritages such as the Nagoya Castle, the Atsuta Shrine, the Tokugawa Museum and Gardens. The Local Scientific Committee and the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the ISBT are collaborating to create a fascinating and up-to-date programme, featuring world recognized scientists talking on sophisticated subjects and topical problems, especially those relating to countries with limited resources. The presentations include state-of-the-art plenary lectures and other concurrent items of interest. Besides these scientific programmes, social events such as pre- and post-congress tours, and a spectacular Gala dinner will offer many opportunities to expand your networking.
The season will be late autumn and ideal for observing the change of
colours among the trees. I am confident that all the participants enjoy
the beauty of the season, as well as all the many professional and social
attractions offered by the XXth Regional Congress of the ISBT, Asia.
We look forward to welcoming all of you in Nagoya.
Prof. Shigeru Takamoto, M.D., Ph.D.
Congress President