It is an honor for me to serve as the president of the Annual Meeting of the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society 2017, JHRS2017, which will take place from September 14 (Thursday) through 17 (Sunday), 2017, at PACIFICO Yokohama. This congress will be held jointly with the 10th Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Session, APHRS2017 (Congress President: Ken Okumura, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital), thus featuring a much larger scale and stronger international representation than usual.

The Japanese Heart Rhythm Society was established in May 2015 by a merger between the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society and the Japanese Society of Electrocardiology. The merger indicates our commitment to enhancing diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive methods for arrhythmic disease through research, information dissemination, and human resource training in the fields of arrhythmology and electrocardiology, to contribute to medical advances and better health for all in Japan. The first annual meeting since the merger was successfully completed in July 2016.

The joint congress planned for September 2017 in Yokohama will be held under the respective slogans of “Shaping Together the Brilliant Future of JHRS” and “Advancing Together in Heart Rhythm.” In the hope that both societies will make big strides in the field of arrhythmia in Asian countries and in view of the ever-increasing need to gather a wide array of professional expertise and skills toward the common goal of advanced arrhythmia treatment, we will steer the congress according to the theme, “promoting team medicine.”

This joint congress is intended as a source of knowledge and technology covering aspects from state-of-the-art concepts in basic research to pharmacological treatments, the diagnosis and treatment of sudden death, catheter ablation by introducing the latest techniques and devices, and the progress in implantable devices and their likely future development, etc., for wide application across the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan. More specifically, the congress will include special lectures, symposia, and general lectures (oral and poster presentations), and we will also offer various educational and training programs for medical professionals including clinical engineers, clinical laboratory technicians, and nurses. Related medical devices will also be exhibited at the venue.

Since this congress is jointly hosted by JHRS, the top Japanese arrhythmia authority, and APHRS, with its strong international background, we expect to see great academic and medical achievements in terms of international scientific exchanges and scientific development. This is also an excellent opportunity to widely introduce the dramatic academic progress and advanced medical technology in the field of arrhythmia in Japan to participants from the Asia-Pacific region, and to encourage further international exchange.

I sincerely thank all members in advance for actively helping to assure the success of this scientific congress in general, and a personally rewarding experience for everyone.