It is my pleasure to host the 7th meeting of the German-Japanese society for Vascular Surgery.
This series of meetings was founded in 1998 by Professor Okada for the purpose of research exchange between German and Japanese vascular surgeons. The first meeting was held in Kobe after the Great Hanshin earthquake and 5 consecutive Biennial meetings were successfully held in Hamburg, Okinawa, Nürnberg, Toba and Leipzig. This is the 7th meeting taking place in Awaji island.
2011 marked the anniversary of 150 years of friendship between Japan and Germany. I am honored to hold a meeting as part of Japan-Germany friendship project with a permission of German embassy.
Diagnostic procedures and treatments for vascular disease have changed dramatically in recent years and minimally invasive techniques have revolutionized the specialty of vascular surgery. The number of vascular operations has been increasing in developed countries as the elderly population grows. Vascular surgeons are required to have high standard skills because the total number of diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia worldwide has risen.
In this meeting, we hope to have many participants (especially young vascular surgeons) from both countries. Active sharing of knowledge, exchanging ideas and experiences will improve the art and science of vascular surgery.
In March 2011, Great East Japan earthquake which triggered powerful tsunami waves and nuclear plant crisis devastated northeastern region of our country. People who were affected by this disaster have been trying to pull their lives together, overcome sadness and reconstruct the beautiful homeland. The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, which hit Kobe and vicinity, was a direct hit earthquake and this disaster was also responsible for a large loss of life and extensive damage to many homes, public buildings and structure. We decided to hold the meeting at the Awaji Yumebutai International conference center, which was built after this devastating earthquake, hoping that northeastern region will restore and revitalize soon.
The location is easily accessible from Kansai International Airport. The Akashi Kaikyo Suspension Bridge that links the city of Kobe with the island of Awaji is the world longest suspension bridge in the world. We hope this meeting will be a bridge to bring us together and strengthen the relationships between vascular surgeons in both countries.

We hope to see you in Japan in September.

1 January, 2012
7th Meeting of the German-Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery
President : Ikuo Fukuda
(Professor, Hirosaki University, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surg.)

The 1st - Masayoshi Okada (Kobe) Kobe Univ.
The 2nd - Herbert Imig  (Hamburg): Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gefässchirurgie, Berlin
The 3rd - Kageharu Koja (Okinawa) Ryukyu Univ.
The 4th - Dieter Raithel,  Thomas Noppeney (Nürnberg)
Raithel: Klinik für Gefässchirurgie 、Vasculäre und Endovasculäre Chirurgie, Nürnberg
Noppeney: Gefässchirurgie und Phlebologie, Gefässchirurgie, Nürnberg
The 5th - Takashi Ota (Toba) Aichi Med College
The 6th - Karin Brachmann (Leipzig)：Zentrum für Gefässmedizin, HELIOS-Klinikum, Leipziger Land
The 7th - Ikuo Fukuda (Awaji) Hirosaki Univ.