Addresses by His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince (2011)

Address by His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince at the Opening of the International Surgical Week 2011(2011)

Address by His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince
at the Opening of the International Surgical Week 2011
Aug. 28, 2011
Pacifico Yokohama, Kanagawa

First and foremost, I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to those who died in the great earthquake and tsunami that occurred in East Japan in March of this year. I extend my deepest sympathy to the bereaved families. At the same time, I sincerely pray that there will be a swift recovery and restoration from this disaster. Moreover, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to those people in the medical field both from Japan and abroad, and especially to the surgeons, who participated in the relief activities.

Today I am very pleased to be able to participate in the opening ceremony of the International Surgical Week 2011, together with all of you from around the world.

I am told that the International Society of Surgery is an academic society that involves many fields of surgery on a broad scale. This conference is rooted in traditions that date back to 1905. It brings together surgeons from around the world to discuss numerous issues and there are people from different countries and social backgrounds who are involved in a wide variety of surgical skills. I believe it will serve as an important opportunity for medical advancements in the field of surgery.

Surgery has its origin in the technology to treat injuries. Thereafter, along with progress in anesthesia, surgery not only treats injuries, but deals with the treatment of cancer and endocrine diseases, in addition to inflammations and congenital diseases. Furthermore, through joint research in a great variety of scientific areas such as mechanical engineering, material engineering, optics and biology, safer and more reliable surgical procedures are being progressively undertaken today.

Amid such accomplished developments, and in the face of a rapidly aging society and changing structures in diseases, surgery has greatly contributed to overcoming common problems facing the world. I realize that the ISW has led to much progress in the surgical field.

I have high expectations that the world's wisdom can be mobilized in this conference to help create a new phase of surgery that works in harmony with scientific advances. I hope moreover that the results of this conference will be used further to educate young doctors, and that the findings will be of use in society in general.

Finally, I am confident that this conference will be a fruitful meeting for those concerned with surgical studies, and that the conference will contribute to further developments in the global medical field. I do hope that further advances in surgery will bring about a healthier and happier life for all people around the world.

Address by His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince of Japan on the Occasion of the Closing Plenary Session of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum(2011)

Address by His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince of Japan
on the Occasion of the Closing Plenary Session of the Eighth Annual Meeting
of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Kyoto International Conference Center, Japan

Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, let me convey my heartfelt condolences to those who perished in the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March of this year. Let me also extend my deepest sympathy to the bereaved families and victims. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the support and encouragement we received from all over the world when our country was struck by this enormous disaster.

I am very pleased to participate in the Closing Plenary Session of the Science and Technology in Society forum. This will be my third attendance since this conference started in 2004. I understand that the main objective of this conference is to discuss the "lights and shadows of science and technology." I think it is very important that lively discussions were conducted on this theme here in Kyoto by experts and leaders who represent various parts of the globe. And these discussions are all the more significant because only six months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear accident occurred.

I also understand that, during the past three days, while various issues were taken up in discussions, the energy issue was highlighted this year.

The supply of safe and stable energy in the future which is also friendly to the global environment is, and will be, a most crucial challenge for science and technology. It is no exaggeration to say that the sustainable energy supply, in harmony with nature, will be vital to the overall activities of mankind. On the basis of the discussions in this conference, I do hope that all the wisdom of specialists will be mobilized, and that the key to the solutions of these issues might be found for a brighter future for humankind.

Moreover, having listened to this morning's session on "Sustainability for the Future of Humankind," I recognized that the word "sustainability" is a wide-ranging concept, covering not only environmental protection and conservation but also food and population. I welcome the fact that science is at the center of work to conduct research and explore solutions on issues of sustainability in various fields for the benefit of the future of humankind.

Last but not least, let me express my heartfelt wish that this forum will provide a beacon to guide us towards a sound advancement of science and technology that will serve us all.

Thank you.