I am pleased to announce that the 111th Congress of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (111JGES) will be held over three days, from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Pacifico Yokohama. Looking back, my first presentation at a national conference was at the 47th Congress of JGES (DDW-Japan 1994) held in Kobe in 1994. It is a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of this historic and traditional society 32 years later, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Society's directors, council members, and all members. Furthermore, for my alma mater, the First Department of Internal Medicine at Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, this marks the first time in 48 years since the late Professor Tadayoshi Takemoto chaired the 20th Congress of JGES in 1978. This responsibility fills me with a profound sense of responsibility.
The theme for this Congress, “Learning from the Past, Looking Ahead to the Future: Endoscopy Medicine in a New Era,” was inspired by the title of the presidential lecture given by my mentor, Professor Kiwamu Okita, when he chaired the 46th Congress of the Japan Society of Gastroenterology (DDW-Japan 2004) in 2004: “My Approach to Regenerative Medicine: Learning from the Past, Looking Ahead to the Future.” As many know, the phrase “温故知新” (onkochishin) from the Analects means “to study and examine past matters to gain new knowledge and insights” (Kojien dictionary). Going beyond “温故知新,” the coined term ‘温故創新’ (ongososhin) takes it a step further, meaning “to learn from the past, think for oneself, and create something new.” We aim to revisit and relearn the gastrointestinal endoscopy medicine built by our predecessors, utilize the knowledge and methods gained from it, and further create and disseminate new technologies, devices, concepts, and diagnostic/therapeutic approaches. We hope this Congress will serve as a forum for broad discussion on such initiatives for this new era.
I sincerely thank you for the many abstracts submitted to this Congress. From these submissions, we have organized 34 themed sessions (including 7 English sessions) and 99 general sessions (65 oral presentations and 34 poster sessions). Additionally, we have arranged educational lectures by 11 leading domestic experts, invited lectures by 14 international speakers, and 5 special lectures. Furthermore, we have invited my mentors, Dr. Hidenobu Watanabe and Dr. Kiwamu Okita, to participate in a roundtable discussion titled “Reflecting on the Past and Innovating for the Future of Endoscopic Medicine from Our Perspectives,” moderated by Dr. Mitsuhiro Fujishiro. Other highlights include three Joint Symposium sessions with international societies and the JGES-STARS Program, which invites young physicians from across Asia. Furthermore, as special events organized by the President, we have planned five sessions: 1) A session for award-winning residents and specialists from branches of JGES, 2) The JGES YOKOHAMA Cup, 3) A video presentation of Nice Recovery Shot cases: Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic, 4) The same for Gastrointestinal, and 5) The 3rd Assembly of WEGECA. Additionally, on Sunday, May 10th, we will hold a public lecture at Queen's Circle in Queen's Square Yokohama, which connects Minatomirai Station to the venue, Pacifico Yokohama. The theme is ‘See, Touch, and Try Moving It! Japanese Endoscopy’ organized with the cooperation of three domestic endoscopy manufacturers.
For this Congress, while we are preparing on-demand viewing for members unable to attend in person due to various circumstances, we fundamentally aim to hold an in-person event filled with an appropriate level of tension, a sense of fulfillment, and a vibrant atmosphere. Yokohama is the port city first opened to the world during the Bakumatsu and Meiji periods, when Japan made a major shift toward modernization. Western medicine, science and technology, and culture flowed in early, profoundly influencing the development of Japanese healthcare. We look forward to welcoming many participants from Japan and abroad to Yokohama, a city undergoing daily transformation, for this Congress. We hope it will be a place for passionate discussions and deepening friendships. Let us connect the past and future of gastrointestinal endoscopy and build a new leap forward together.

Congress President, The 111th Congress of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society
Shomei Ryozawa, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman, Department of Gastroenterology
Saitama Medical University International Medical Center

Name	The 111th Congress of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society
Date	Fri, May 8 - Sun, May 10, 2026
Congress President	Shomei Ryozawa MD, PhD Professor & Chairman, Department of Gastroenterology Saitama Medical University International Medical Center
Venue	PACIFICO Yokohama Conference Center & Exhibition Hall A+B