The Japanese Association of Anatomists, the Physiological Society of Japan, and the Japanese Pharmacological Society are the oldest academic organizations in basic medicine that represent Japan, and each has a long history of academic activity. In the past, there have been joint conferences for anatomy and physiology (2011, 2015, 2021) and for physiology and pharmacology (2003), but this will be the first time that the three academic societies will jointly hold a conference. It all started when Yoshihiro Ishikawa, the former president of the Physiological Society of Japan (Yokohama City University), suggested that a joint conference of many basic medical societies, like FASEB in the United States, could be held in Japan. When the coronavirus pandemic COVID-19 spread across the country in 2020, he appealed to the President of the Japanese Association of Anatomists, Hiroyuki Yaginuma (Fukushima Medical University), and the President of the Japanese Society of Pharmacology, Kazuhiko Yanai (Tohoku University). The following year, at an online meeting also attended by Watanabe, Naruse, and Adachi-Akahane, who were or were scheduled to become the next Presidents, it was decided to hold a joint conference in 2025. One of the things we agreed upon at that time was that the board directors of each academic society should be involved in the joint conference. The aim is not to make this joint conference a one-off fireworks display, but to continue to improve and develop research and education capabilities in the field of basic medicine, and to make it a vibrant place for the development of young researchers. Happily, the number of basic science academic societies that sympathize with this aim is increasing.

The theme of this joint conference of three academic societies (English name: Anatomy-Physiology-Pharmacology Week in 2025, abbreviated as APPW2025) is “Toward the Future of Concert – Exploring, Elucidating, and Protecting Life.” Through interdisciplinary cooperation centered on the three academic societies, we will explore the mechanism of maintaining homeostasis in individuals through the cooperation of cells and organs, as well as the diversity and sustainability of life through cooperation between individuals and the environment, and aim to create a healthy future society. It embodies our desire to achieve this goal. The subtitle, “Exploring, Solving, and Protecting Life,” explores the characteristics of each academic field by exploring life from a structural perspective (anatomy) and from a functional perspective (physiology), and developing ways to protect life (pharmacology). The covers and poster designs of the program collection incorporate the idea of realizing One Health, which focuses on the principles of the structure and function of the human body, and considers the protection and health of all living things and the health of the earth and space environment as one. In addition, the spiral pattern behind the human body and One Health is inspired by the Anatomy Department of the University of Padua (Teatro Anatomico) and the medical researchers who spread their wings around the world from there.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that broke out at the end of 2019, the holding way of academic conferences has been affected greatly, including holding them in print, online, and hybrid. In light of the current social situation and keeping a close eye on future trends including other infectious diseases, we are proceeding with preparations for APPW2025 to be held face-to-face at Makuhari Messe. We hope that as many people as possible will come to the local venue and enjoy the scale merit and chemical reactions that can only be achieved through this joint conference.