My name is Daisuke Ichikawa and I have been appointed President of the Japanese Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutritional Therapy (JSPEN). I am very proud to be asked to take on this important role in a society that has one of the largest memberships in Japan and a long history and tradition.

Last year, under the leadership of former President Hiki, the Society changed its name to the Japanese Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutritional Therapy. I believe that the name change is not only a change of name, but also the first step in spreading awareness of the need for cooperation between different professions in the treatment of patients. As a gastroenterological surgeon involved in the surgical treatment of patients, I have become acutely aware of the importance of nutritional management in the context of disease. I recognise that nutritional management is an essential component of various therapies.

In our society, the board members are active in many committees and we would like to focus in particular on “Discussion and establishment of new NST”, “Deepening of education and research” and “Permanent management of the society”. In particular, we believe that there is a need to deepen the discussion on the next generation of NST systems, although nutritional treatment as a form of multidisciplinary team medicine is currently recognised as an addition to the NST system. We also believe that the education of students and young healthcare professionals will become even more important in the future. The nutritional science they learn in school focuses on the theory of health conditions, but it is extremely important to convey the importance and appeal of nutritional treatment of disease. For this reason, we will continue to support travel grants to international conferences and national study abroad programmes, as well as focusing on producing educational materials and organising seminars that enable young members to learn effectively. We also plan to publish new guidelines this year, which we hope will help to confirm the current state of evidence and identify future research targets. We also consider it important to ensure transparency in the management of the Society. We will also work to establish a sustainable system for holding General Meetings and Branch Meetings as a place where members can continually update their knowledge.　

The Society will provide a place where members can share and learn from the latest research and practical knowledge in a multidisciplinary environment so that they can deliver the best possible nutritional care in their own institutions. We will also continue our efforts to ensure that new generations shine and that knowledge is passed on to the next generation. We look forward to your support and cooperation.