Welcome Message

Tsugumichi KOSHINAGA, M.D., Ph.D.
　Congress Chair, the 59th Annual Congress of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons Chair and Professor of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery,Nihon University School of Medicine

　It is my great privilege to host the 59th Annual Congress of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons from May 19th through to the 21st, 2022. This will be the third time for Nihon University to host this national meeting following the 1st Congress chaired by Professor Osamu Wakabayashi and the 19th Congress chaired by Professor Ken Morita.
　The JSPS was founded 57 years ago based on a novel philosophy at that time which created an environment fostering genuine academic exchange among surgeons practicing pediatric surgery. The JSPS manifests the concept of “gathering individuals burning with a sincere passion for furthering scholarship activity regardless of place, status, or academic clique” (Takashi Ueda, Chair of the 8th Annual Congress). I believe that now, we must keep alive and sustain the core of our heritage as we strive together to meet the needs of a new age.
　The theme of this year’s Congress is “Create and Sustain.” The phrase, “Which is more difficult, to create or to sustain?” was written long ago in an old Chinese book called the “Zhenguan Zhengyao.” This famous book, written in 708–710, includes a political dialogue between Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) of the Tang Dynasty - renowned as a wise ruler - and his officials. Emperor Taizong appointed Wei Zheng as the imperial advisor with a mandate to speak up for what he saw as right. Emperor Taizong often gladly accepted his suggestions. The book was brought to Japan during the Kamakura Period and translated into Japanese by order of Hojo Masako, who wielded influence on the Kamakura administration. Tokugawa Ieyasu also admired this book as an essential text for governance. It remains, to this day, a highly regarded textbook as a utopian model of ideal government.
　I firmly believe we must endeavor to develop the legacy of the JSPS further. The concept of creation and sustainability also underlies progress in pediatric surgery. Based on the hardships and the innovations built up by those before us in the early years, I believe it is our responsibility to maintain and further build up academic knowledge and skills in pediatric surgery.
　Finally, I would like to invite the Society’s predecessors to join together with current members cooperate in making this Congress a productive one for all involved.