Fumino Fujiyama
President of the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society
(Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University)

The 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society will be held from Thursday, July 24th, to Sunday, July 27th, 2025, at the Toki Messe Niigata Convention Center in Niigata. In addition to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Japan Neuroscience Society, which initially comprised only 70 members, we are actively preparing for a fulfilling and exciting conference, including the invitations of world-class neuroscientists and the organization of various events to celebrate this milestone. We invite you to join us, looking forward to welcoming your presence at this momentous occasion.

Over the past five decades, the landscape of neuroscience has undergone a profound transformation. A multitude of disciplines are actively engaged in unraveling the grand mysteries of the brain, including molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, psychology, behavioral science, information science, technology, mathematics, and clinical medicine. Furthermore, cutting-edge technological innovations from various fields, including academia and industry, have accelerated the progress of neuroscience. With this remarkable advancement, the Japan Neuroscience Society, founded half a century ago, has emerged as the largest academic organization in neuroscience in Japan, boasting over 6,000 researchers across a wide spectrum of disciplines.
Since the inaugural academic gathering of the Society in 1978, our annual meetings have consistently served as a central forum for the presentation of research findings and the exchange of information, fostering the advancement of the field as a whole. Throughout this period, even in challenging circumstances such as natural disasters and pandemics, the pivotal role of the annual conference has persevered, thanks to the unwavering dedication of all participants and members involved.

The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting is “A future projection of neuroscience as envisioned in the mind.”

Amidst the dynamic trends enveloping neuroscience, influenced by societal conditions and technological advancements, what aspirations will neuroscientists hold for the next five decades? Each researcher envisions a distinct future in his/her mind, encompassing pursuits such as unraveling the operational principles of the brain, comprehending the intricacies of the mind, interpreting societal dynamics through a neuroscientific lens, and exploring and treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. By uniting these diverse visions and fostering interdisciplinary interactions that transcend boundaries of specializations, genders, ages, and nationalities, our future projections can become both more realistic and more hopeful.
Furthermore, to establish a meaningful link between this field and the unfolding years, it is imperative to develop the next generation. In addition to enhancing educational programs designed to facilitate a shared language for understanding the increasingly specialized and advanced subfields of neuroscience, our aim is to create an inclusive learning environment that engages young researchers, graduate students, university scholars, and even the emerging generations beyond.

We sincerely hope that this year’s meeting will mark the first step: the start of the next 50 years of this society, and the beginning of the road to our 100th anniversary.