Dear all,

 I will cordially introduce you to the 29th annual meeting of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society (JBCS). It is my great honor and pleasure to hold historical and traditional meeting on July 1st to 3rd in 2021 at the PACIFICO Yokohama North. I also have great privilege to organize it, following the 5th meeting hosted by Prof. Koji Enomoto, the 8th meeting by Prof. Tomoo Tajima and the 15th meeting by Prof. Tadashi Ikeda. They are my mentors who had been graduated from Keio University School of Medicine.

 The main theme is “New Horizons of Breast Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis”. Multidisciplinary approach to cancer therapy is rapidly in progress. Precision medicine, e.g. drug therapy based on the molecular profile, is made as a standard care for breast cancer patients. Surgical treatment is selected less invasively and more cosmetically. Fortunately, risk-reducing mastectomy and breast reconstruction for BRCA-mutated patients have been covered under national health insurance since April 2020. Now is the new horizon to offer suitable treatment individualized by patient and disease characteristics.

 In June 2018, I was elected a chairman of the board of directors. After then, my mission at JBCS is “to provide reliable health care for breast cancer patients” and my vision “to promote academic activity for Japanese investigators worldwide”. As one of the new projects, annual meeting will be placed at the same convention center between 2021 and 2023 at participants’ convenience. There are many types of sessions for medical staff, basic scientists and breast cancer patients. In addition, Prof. Shimon Sakaguchi at Osaka University and Prof. Makoto Nakanishi at Tokyo University will talk about special lectures regarding “immunology” and “senescence and cancer”, respectively.

 COVID-19 still rages in the world and new life style must be adapted to protect viral infection. We will pay attention to meeting management and hope that it will be safe and satisfactory for the audience in-person or virtually.

 Please take care of your health and enjoy the 29th annual meeting at Yokohama and website!