JSPD Development Over 60 Years – Our Future Responsibility to Contribute to Oral Care for All Children

　I am pleased to announce that I was appointed as the 29th President of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry (JSPD) in May 2022. The JSPD was founded in 1963 and we commemorated that at the 60th anniversary congress held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba, in May 2022. Over these past six decades, the JSPD has developed into the largest scientific society in the field of pediatric dentistry in Japan. 　In consideration of current conditions in society, I intend to lead the JSPD to focus not only on dental treatment, but also social care related to the oral conditions of all children and individuals with disabilities. In order to achieve this goal, I will do my best to provide an environment in which all members are able to join the activities of the JSPD. In addition, I believe that it is important for the JSPD to contribute to policies related to child health and development in association with the new Agency of Child and Domestic Affairs, which will be founded as a Cabinet Office associated with the national government in April 2023 as an important effort to consolidate administrative efforts for children. 　Furthermore, I consider it vital to increase our efforts for international academic exchange. Along this line, we will invite the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD) to hold its congress in Japan. Back in 1991, the JSPD hosted the 13th congress of the IAPD in Kyoto under the chairmanship of Prof. Sadahiro Yoshida. Then, in 1997, we also hosted the founding conference of the Pediatric Dentistry Association of Asia (PDAA) under the chairmanship of Prof. Yukio Machida. More recently, under my chairmanship, the JSPD served as host for the 10th congress of the PDAA in 2016. Based on these successful experiences, I believe that now is the best timing for an invitation to again hold the IAPD congress in Japan. 　During my term, I will do my best to provide reliable application of the new Pediatric Dentistry Specialist system that has been authorized by the Japanese Dental Specialty Board. In addition, I intend to introduce an original set of procedures for certification of pediatric dentists by the JSPD. As a public benefit corporation, it will also be important to attempt to increase research outcomes in collaboration with universities and academic societies, as well as industry in order to meet the needs of the public. 　A point of emphasis in the pediatric dentistry field is provision for appropriate oral development, thus I think that it is our responsibility as a corporation focused on benefitting the public to promote that in our communities. I promise to lead the JSPD to strive to maintain, and also improve and develop the oral health and function of children through various activities provided by our members.