Welcome Message
Taiji Sakamoto, MD, PhD
It is with great pleasure and honor that we host the 4th FujiRetina Conference at the end of March 2025. FujiRetina was established under the leadership of the Japanese Retina and Vitreous Society to create a platform for sharing cutting-edge information on retinal research in East Asia and disseminating the region's research achievements to the global community.
The concept of FujiRetina was initiated before the COVID-19 pandemic, with the original aim of providing a venue in Japan where participants could engage with the latest developments in global retinal research. This was partly to reduce the need for frequent international travel to conferences in Europe and North America, in consideration of climate change. However, with the global spread of the pandemic, the importance of having access to world-class information within Japan increased dramatically.
The first three FujiRetina conferences were held in a hybrid format, with participant numbers and on-site attendance growing each year. As of January 2025, we have received over 50% more abstract submissions compared to previous years, and the number of international faculty members wishing to participate has also risen. This underscores that FujiRetina is steadily achieving its original objectives.
In the current uncertain global political and economic climate, the hurdles for attending international conferences have become higher than before. Nevertheless, advancing retinal research requires more than just accessing information; it necessitates direct discussions with researchers from around the world. We are confident that the 4th FujiRetina will play a vital role in facilitating such exchanges.
March in Tokyo is a time when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, making it the most enchanting season of the year. We hope that our international participants will not only enjoy the vibrant spring atmosphere of Tokyo, a city renowned for its world-class cuisine, but also engage in meaningful and passionate discussions about retinal research.
We look forward to welcoming you to this year’s conference.