My name is Hiro-o Yamano from the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center at Sapporo Medical University Hospital. I am honored to serve as the President of the 109th Congress of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (109JGES). This Congress will be held over three days, from May 9 to May 11, 2025, in Sapporo, Hokkaido. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to JGES President Shinji Tanaka, the board members, and all the members for providing me with this opportunity.
This will be the fourth time JGES Congress will be held in Hokkaido in its long history. The last time was 19 years ago, during JDDW 2006 when the 72nd JGES Congress was held under the presidency of Professor Michio Tanaka from Toyama University. However, the last time the meeting was held with a president residing in Hokkaido was at the 48th JGES Congress in 1994, under Professor Yoshio Murashima from Sapporo-Kosei General Hospital, which goes back 31 years. I was bone and raised in Hokkaido (so called “Dosanko”), so it gives me great pleasure to be able to hold the JGES Congress here after such a long interval, and at the same time, I am also acutely aware of the significance and responsibility of hosting the meeting in a regional location.
Our main theme of this year's meeting is “Passion, Ambition, and Dream.” Centered around 31 Theme Sessions on highly requested topics and significant diseases, we have planned numerous sessions, including Educational Lectures by authorities in various fields, Case Study Sessions, presentations by trainees, an endoscopic technique competition (tentative), attempts at remote endoscopic consultations suited for the DX era (tentative), and general presentations (oral and poster). Furthermore, the meeting will primarily be held in person, with selective sessions available on-demand.
We wish for this meeting to be a significant opportunity that leads to the development and future of endoscopy and gastroenterology, fulfilling our “dreams.”
Hokkaido, especially Sapporo, with its many attractions from food to tourism, refreshing breezes, and lush green season, awaits to warmly welcome you all. We look forward to seeing many of you there.

June 2024
President of the 109th Congress of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society
Hiro-o Yamano, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine / Professor of University Hospital & Director, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center, Sapporo Medical University Hospital

Name	The 109th Congress of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society
Main Theme	Passion, Ambition and Dream
Date	Fri, May 9 - Sun, May 11, 2025
President	Hiro-o Yamano, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine / Professor of University Hospital & Director, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center, Sapporo Medical University Hospital
Venue	Sapporo Education and Culture Hall, Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Park (ex Royton Sapporo), Sapporo Prince Hotel, Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo