Addresses by Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino(2024)

　Distinguished guests and Congress participants,

　It is a great pleasure for me to attend the opening ceremony of the 27th International Congress of Entomology, ICE 2024, being held under the main theme of “New Discoveries through Consilience” with so many people from Japan and abroad here in Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital.

　The International Congress of Entomology has internationally promoted basic and applied research and academic exchanges in the fields of insects and some other related arthropods for more than a hundred years since the first Congress in Brussels in 1910.

　I understand that ICE is being held in Japan for the second time, 44 years after the 16th Congress in 1980.

　I would like to express my deep respect to those who have supported the development of this field over many years, and to the Local Organizing Committee for its contribution in hosting ICE 2024.

　I understand that insects, which account for about three-quarters of all animal species living on earth, are a highly diversified group of organisms adapted to a wide range of environments.

　Insects are familiar to humans and can also serve as bioindicators of ecosystem conditions, and they are closely related to our daily lives and economic activities, too.

　In addition, entomology is not limited to the fields of biology or agricultural sciences such as pest control to prevent damage to crops.

　This subject is an extremely wide range of studies that also encompasses ethnoentomology, the study of relationships between insects and humans, such as folk knowledge and ecological knowledge about insects in various regions, folk taxonomy, entomophagy, and others.

　It also embraces cultural entomology, which examines cultural representations, including pop culture, to show how humans perceive insects.

　By the way, insects are also related to the field of “domestication”, which is my research interest.

　It is truly fascinating to learn, for example, how silkworms became associated with humans and were domesticated, and how different varieties of them were subsequently bred.

　And I am similarly interested in the current domestication level of western honey bees, commonly kept for apiculture, and of bumblebees, commercialized for pollinating agricultural crops.

　Thus, entomology is a highly multidisciplinary field.

　Therefore, ICE 2024 is truly meaningful in bringing together approximately 4,000 researchers and the public, including children, from Japan and around the world to facilitate in-depth discussions.

　In closing my address, I hope that the multifaceted exchange that will take place across fields from natural sciences to the humanities and social sciences, and between researchers and public enthusiasts, will help to achieve “consilience”, the “integration of knowledge”.

　Moreover, I wish that this will ultimately contribute to the conservation of species and the environment, and to the advancement and deepening of entomology.

　It is also my sincere wish that ICE 2024 and your stay in Kyoto will be fruitful, meaningful, and enjoyable for you all.

　Thank you for your kind attention.

　Dear participants,

　It is my great pleasure to be with you today at the opening ceremony of the 16th Congress of the Asia Continental Branch of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, SIOP Asia 2024. I would like to express my appreciation to all those who have worked very hard to prepare for this conference.

　SIOP is the world’s largest international childhood cancer society, which was founded in 1969 and has over 3,000 members, with the goal that “no child should die of cancer.” This is the first time that the annual congress of SIOP Asia has been held in Japan. I would like to express my sincere respect to SIOP and SIOP Asia members who continue to make tireless efforts to advance childhood cancer care around the world.

　Along with the progress of medical science, including genomic medicine, the cure rate of childhood cancer in developed countries has increased in recent years. Most childhood cancers, however, are rare cancers, and each child has a different condition, making accurate diagnosis difficult. Many children in some regions of the world still have no access, or limited access, to adequate healthcare. The WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer has set a goal of a global cure rate of 60% by 2030. It is critical to continue to collaborate across different countries and regions toward this goal.

　Physicians, nurses, families and supporters will do everything they can to save a child’s life. But this is just the beginning of a new chapter. I learned that even if the treatment has saved the child’s life, it may cause “late effects” that will affect the child for many years. Childhood cancer survivors need to go to a follow-up clinic and see a healthcare team even after treatment.

　According to findings from the latest science, in order to facilitate early childhood development, healthcare practitioners should focus on both physical and psychological functions. This is because social, emotional, and cognitive development is strongly associated with how children think, act, and interact with others. These are important skills when a child returns to school and later becomes an adult. Support for children’s psychological development is essential during their treatment and follow-up care. The issue of childhood cancer presents tough social challenges, and it is important for the participants of this congress and other SIOP members in the world to work together across borders to find better answers for our children’s future.

　I sincerely wish that this congress will be a place to discuss various challenges to help all children with cancer live a better life with due respect to its quality. They are young people. They are children. They are even babies. They are the ones who are the most vulnerable and need the most support.

　Thank you for your dedication, commitment and love.