Diverse, Participant-Driven Programs at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology
From November 21 to 23, 2024, The 37th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology (JASTRO 2024) was held at PACIFICO Yokohama North in Yokohama, Japan, with Congrès Inc. responsible for the planning and operation of the conference.
Under the leadership of Congress President Hiroshi Onishi, M.D., Ph.D. (Professor, Yamanashi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology), the meeting emphasized active engagement from all participants. A variety of innovative initiatives were introduced, including interactive debate sessions utilizing cloud-based platforms, recognition of participants who contributed the most questions, networking events "Welcome Banquet," and information sharing via social media by attendees themselves.
The conference welcomed approximately 3,100 participants, facilitating dynamic discussions throughout, and concluded successfully with high levels of engagement and enthusiasm.
Congress President: Hiroshi Onishi, M.D., Ph.D. (Professor, Yamanashi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology)
Theme: Shisei-Keigan
The theme of this year's meeting was "Shisei-Keigan"--a phrase that conveys the importance of utmost sincerity and keen insight. President Onishi expressed that the theme reflects his belief that, "What matters most in delivering high-precision radiotherapy is the ability to continuously discern what is fundamentally right and to sincerely provide care that is precisely aligned with each patient's emotional and physical needs."
The sub-theme, "Reexamining Our Concept of Common Sense and Introducing a New Dimension for PGRT: Patient-Guided Radiotherapy," emphasizes the newly coined concept of Patient-Guided Radiotherapy (PGRT). Inspired by conventional Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)--which uses imaging data to accurately target organs and tumors--PGRT shifts the focus toward a treatment philosophy that places top priority on precisely addressing each patient's individual preferences and expectations.
Participant-Driven Programming Encourages Active Engagement
A key feature of this year's meeting was its wide range of sessions designed to encourage participants to actively reflect on current practices and engage in meaningful dialogue. Building on this foundation, and in line with President Onishi's vision of creating a conference that is both engaging and thought-provoking for all attendees, a series of unique and interactive sessions were newly introduced. These included Debate Sessions, Self-Praised Case Presentations, Motivation Boosters, and even a candid Controversial Takes Session. Congrès Inc. provided full support across the planning and execution of these innovative program elements.
Interactive Feature 1: Debate Sessions
One of the standout interactive features was the Debate Sessions, where audience votes determined the outcome of each debate. A real-time voting system was implemented, allowing participants to cast their votes on the session's topic during the discussion. Attendees simply scanned a QR code with their smartphones to participate, with results instantly displayed on large screens in the venue. Voting outcomes were also regularly shared on the official X account for wider engagement.
Interactive Feature 2: Recognizing the Most Engaged Participants
To further encourage active participation, a special initiative was implemented to recognize the attendees who asked the most questions or provided the most comments across all sessions. Staff members scanned the QR codes printed on each participant's name badge whenever they contributed during a session, enabling efficient tracking for both the organizers and attendees.
Top contributors were announced daily on the official X account, and following the conference, those ranked highest were honored with the "Keigan Award"--named after the meeting's theme--along with a certificate and commemorative gift, as published on the official website.
Additionally, in an effort to promote broader dissemination of the conference content, the event permitted photography of presentation slides and posters in principle, and encouraged attendees to share insights via social media. This openness fostered extended discussion and new connections, both within and beyond the academic community.
Local Flavor and Digital Engagement in the Exhibition Hall
In the exhibition area, where medical device manufacturers and related organizations showcased their latest offerings, a special corner featured local products from Yamanashi Prefecture--the home of the host institution. This initiative offered participants a taste of Yamanashi's charm while attending the event in Yokohama, fostering a connection with the congress president's region.
To encourage active engagement with exhibitor booths, a digital stamp rally was held, offering original prizes to participants who visited multiple booths. One of the featured giveaways was a miniature keychain of a radiotherapy machine, created with a 3D printer in collaboration with Dakarakoso Create--an organization dedicated to transforming the experiences of cancer survivors into new value for society. The initiative received an overwhelming response, far exceeding initial expectations in terms of participation.
Photo Spot Adds a Playful Touch to the Exhibition Hall
A photo spot featuring the official visual theme of the congress was set up in the exhibition area, offering attendees a fun way to capture memories of the event. The backdrop incorporated trick art elements, and many participants posed with specially designed uchiwa (traditional hand fans) created by the host institution, adding a lively and personal touch to their photos.
At the request of the host institution, a purikura (customizable photo booth) was also installed--a rare feature for academic conferences. The booth allowed attendees to create photo stickers with original frames designed for the event. The novelty and nostalgic appeal of the purikura proved immensely popular, drawing long lines and even resulting in a temporary shortage of photo sheets due to high demand.
Original Calligraphy by Local High School Students Adds Inspirational Flair
As a special collaboration with the local community, the calligraphy club of Kofu Nishi High School in Yamanashi--the home prefecture of the host institution--created a series of original calligraphy works for the event. The large-scale, dynamic characters made a powerful visual impact within the expansive exhibition hall.
The featured pieces, bearing messages such as "Shisei-Keigan" and "Radiotherapy that Combines Heart and Skill for the Sake of the Patient," left a lasting impression on many attendees, delivering a sense of inspiration and encouragement that resonated deeply with the meeting's overall theme and spirit.
A Memorable Evening: Networking Reception Featuring a Powerful Music Performance
The networking reception "Welcome Banquet" held on the second evening offered attendees a chance to reconnect and enjoy good food in a relaxed setting. The event also included an awards ceremony recognizing the recipients of the Best Presentation Award and Outstanding Presentation Award from the original session tracks.
A major highlight of the evening was a special live performance featuring the JASTRO Orchestra--an ensemble formed by music-loving members of the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology--and musician Tsutomu Karakawa, a cancer survivor who has undergone radiotherapy. The collaborative performance was conducted by President Onishi, adding a personal and symbolic touch to the occasion.
The night concluded on a high note with a dynamic performance by the Matsuda Brothers, a boogie-woogie piano duo whose high-energy stage presence brought the audience to life and made the evening an unforgettable experience.
Running and Futsal Events Foster Community and Refreshment
To encourage networking and offer a refreshing break from the academic sessions, a morning run and futsal tournament were organized during the meeting.
The run took place on the morning of the second day in a time-trial format. All finishers received personalized certificates displaying their official time--an energizing way to kick off the day's activities with a clear mind and positive spirit.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, the futsal tournament was held at Noah Futsal Stage Yokohama, located near the venue. The friendly matches provided a fun and informal setting for participants to continue connecting, even after the formal sessions had ended.
To commemorate their participation, all athletes were gifted original event T-shirts, allowing them to take home not only new insights from their field, but also fond memories beyond academia.
A Word from a Representative of Congrès Inc.
One of the most memorable moments in preparing for this congress was hearing President Hiroshi Onishi, express from the early planning stages his desire to make this a "legendary meeting." His vision became a powerful motivator for our entire team throughout the preparation process.
In order to keep pace with President Onishi's innovative approach, we also challenged ourselves to break away from conventional thinking and tackle each task with fresh perspectives and full commitment. Although the event was held at the same venue as JASTRO 2023, we deliberately avoided simply "following last year's example" or "doing things the usual way", striving instead to create something entirely new.
When the event finally took place, we were proud to witness the largest JASTRO meeting to date in terms of attendance, number of sessions, and original programming. It was truly an honor to support the realization of such a groundbreaking and impactful event. The experience has not only been deeply rewarding but will undoubtedly serve as a foundation for our continued growth in future projects.
Message from Hiroshi Onishi, President of JASTRO 2024
The vision we set for this academic congress was clear: to create "a bold and innovative conference that broke conventional norms--one to be remembered and recorded as truly legendary." To achieve this, we introduced a range of novel initiatives, including debate sessions with live audience voting, daily recognition of the most active questioners, real-time evaluations and awards for on-the-spot presentations, a digital stamp rally in the exhibition area, and even the installation of trick art photo zones.
Some of these ideas were first-time challenges even for a major professional operator like Congrès Inc., and I am aware that many aspects required extraordinary effort and coordination. Despite this, the meeting welcomed a record number of participants, and afterward, we received an outpouring of positive feedback from both attendees and industry partners--many saying things like, "It was an incredibly unique and excellent conference unlike any we've experienced before."
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Fujisawa, Mr. Shibuya, Ms. Takeuchi, and Mr. Kato for their exceptional dedication. As the congress approached and new challenges surfaced daily, they responded to every request--no matter how demanding--without complaint and with unwavering commitment. Their presence throughout the event provided a strong sense of security and partnership.
I was especially moved by a heartfelt comment from Ms. Fujisawa immediately after the closing ceremony. She said, "It was tough, but this experience will be invaluable moving forward," and her expression carried a satisfied smile that stayed with me.
The impression I hold of Congrès Inc. is one of integrity, wholeheartedness, and reassurance. Their contribution went far beyond a typical contractual relationship between organizer and operations team. I am deeply grateful for their partnership. Thank you all, sincerely.
