I am Osamu Abe of The University of Tokyo, and I am honored to serve as the Congress President of the 85th Annual Meeting of the Japan Radiological Society (JRS2026). We are now under preparation with a firm sense of responsibility, inspired by the creativity and ingenuity, passion for radiology, attractive scientific programs, and vibrant energy of past meetings. JRS2026 will be held at PACIFICO Yokohama for the four days from Thursday, April 16 to Sunday, April 19, 2026, in conjunction with the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology, the 131st Scientific Meeting of the Japan Society of Medical Physics, and the International Technical Exhibition of Medical Imaging (ITEM 2026) as JRC2026.

The clinical importance of radiology is growing day by day with advances in technologies such as high-field MRI with enhanced gradient magnetic field performance, photon-counting CT, MR-Linac, nuclear medicine theranostics, and AI-supported image reconstruction, lesion detection, and qualitative diagnosis. The theme for JRC2026 is “Radiology Connectome”, which reflects the aspiration that radiology should serve as a hub of medical care in light of its rising importance while patient-centric healthcare remains the overarching principle. Healthcare comprises a wide variety of elements such as physicians from diverse specialties, radiological technologists, and other medical professionals, cutting-edge sciences and technologies such as medical physics and AI, and companies that develop and supply medical equipment and drugs. It is also vital to have information sharing and collaboration with medical practitioners and researchers in other countries. It is our vision that radiology should have a central role in that context and foster various collaborations, serving as a key player in the advancement and innovation of healthcare as a whole. The theme and poster of JRC2026 was designed to express this ideaｌ goal.

The program for JRS 2026 is currently under active preparation. While we will inherit the excellence of past programs, we also aim to introduce new ideas to make the meeting even more engaging. As part of workstyle reform, the Closing Ceremony, traditionally held on Sunday late afternoon, will instead take place at midday, allowing participants traveling from afar to return home with greater ease. Following the Closing Ceremony, a farewell reception with light refreshments will provide an opportunity for members and participants across societies to enjoy a final exchange. In return, the program on Thursday will be scheduled with higher density to ensure that the overall scope of the scientific content is maintained.

The Executive and the Program Committees will continue working together until the very last moment to ensure that the meeting will be truly memorable. The success of this meeting depends on your attendance, presentations, active participation in Q&A, and other forms of cooperation. We sincerely look forward to seeing you in Yokohama beneath the full bloom of cherry blossoms.