I am ever so sorry that, on September 29, 2017, Prof. Toshiaki Watanabe suddenly passed away, who had been serving as the 6th President of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) since January 2017. In order to deal with the unexpected vacancy of the office of President, the extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee was held three times, followed by consultation with Honorary Presidents Prof. Masayuki Yasutomi and Prof. Tetsuichiro Muto. Consequently, it was determined that, as a special measure, I will be reappointed as President after leaving the position in January 2017 to hold the presidency until appointment of the next President.

JSCCR was founded in 1973 with the aims of conducting colorectal cancer (CRC) researches and advancing diagnosis and treatment of CRC. In order to accomplish those aims, JSCCR, as stated in the JSCCR Constitution, carry out the following activities: (1) holding a research meeting twice a year, (2) improving the “Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma,” (3) establish CRC database by accumulating CRC data throughout Japan and provision of statistics, and (4) undertakings various committee activities and research projects. In addition, focus is placed on enriching the “JSCCR Guidelines for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer” which was firstly published in 2005.

JSCCR is highlighted by its vigorous research projects. A number of research projects have been launched since a decade ago, in which the JSCCR member institutions can freely take part. Thanks to active participation by those from the member institutions in our research projects, great strides have been made in CRC research, which have been presented in more than ten English research papers annually and reflected in the “Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma” and the “JSCCR Guidelines for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer.”

Such distinguishing and vigorous activities of JSCCR are supported and driven by the dedication of surgeons, physicians, pathologists engaged in diagnosis and treatment of CRC who are earnestly committed to providing better and higher quality medical care to CRC patients.

My current mission is to pass the baton on to the next President who will push JSCCR ahead to greater heights. In closing, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the generous support extended by JSCCR members and ask for your kind cooperation in our future endeavors.

July 2019
Kenichi Sugihara