TFI: 6th Annual Conference, Kyoto, Japan

From ThyroWorld Volume 4, No 1

Conference Highlights

If Oxford is the city of a hundred dreaming spires, then Kyoto must surely be the city of a thousand soaring temples and shrines. The beautiful ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto was the site last October of the Twelfth International Thyroid Congress, a prestigious thyroid event. It is held only every five years when individual member thyroid organizations give up their own meetings to come together at one joint international meeting. The members participating in this 12th Congress were the American Thyroid Association, the European Thyroid Association, the Latin American Thyroid Society and the host organization, the Asia and Oceania Thyroid Association. Some 1000 delegates attended with 600 research papers presented.

The 11th Congress was held in Toronto, Canada in 1995 when the Thyroid Federation International came into being. So in 2000, TFI's more modest meeting was our 6th Annual conference and we benefited greatly from our association with the larger Congress. We were cordially invited to participate in both the professional and social activities. Nine TFI member organizations attended from eight countries. Some countries such as Australia and Sweden have more than one thyroid patients association. Each group gave a report on its activities and accomplishments during the past year. Everyone reported interest and progress in their country; some of the projects and initiatives are indeed outstanding. As well as conducting our own business sessions, we also had a booth where we displayed our literature, made our existence known and invited delegates to start patient thyroid associations in their respective countries. We were pleased with the interest shown in our literature and in our patient organizations.

Distinguished Guests

Dr. Fumito Akasu, TFI's Vice-President, was "our man in Japan," making all manner of professional and personal arrangements for us. Thanks to his great efforts, we were treated to special presentation by a number of distinguished delegates to the Congress. Dr. Junji Konishi, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, brought us greetings from the Congress as did his gracious wife, Mrs. Atsuko Konishi, the organizer of many social events. She welcomed us to the international concert at the opening reception, the time-honoured tea ceremony, the spectacular historical parade and the impressive opening ceremonies.

Dr. Kazuo Hashimoto gave a fine presentation on the life and work of his father, the late Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto, a legend in the annals of thyroid research. Later in the week, Dr. Hashimoto invited us to his home town of Nara and personally took us on a walking tour of Nara, it's temples and famous deer park. It was a great pleasure and honour for us all.

Dr. Hideo Kurihara, a leading Japanese thyroid specialist and surgeon, also took us on a tour by videotape and slides of his thyroid clinic in northern Japan. There, he and his two colleagues see over 1000 patients a year, and over 100 on Saturdays. The clinic is so streamlined that the process, from the initial interview with the patient to the test results and diagnosis, can be done within an hour. We were impressed! Accompanying Dr. Kurihara were his wife Coco and their long-time friend and English teacher, Ms. Verzinea Braymer. Coco gave us an entertaining talk on their home city of Marioka in north-eastern Japan, describing its history, geography and its many colourful festivals. Marioka is often called "the little Kyoto", a city and region of forest and water.

Another distinguished endocrinologist who gave our group a special presentation was Dr. Noboru Hamada, Director of the Sumire Hospital in Osaka City, the second largest city in Japan. His special area of expertise is in new diagnostic criteria for Hashimoto's disease, what antibodies should be selected for the diagnosis. The topic was examined in a 1995-1o97 study of 63 patients at the Ito Hospital in Tokyo. He commented on the high incidence of Hashimoto's disease, especially in women with a one-eighth ratio diagnosed in the out-patient clinic. Dr. Hamada's opinion is that it is important to know and measure the risk of having Hashimoto's disease as well as to make a diagnosis.

also visited us and gave welcoming remarks. Dr. Kuma is a director of Kuma Hospital in Kobe City. This hospital is well known for its specialization in thyroid disease. As well as being a thyroid surgeon, Dr. Kuma is also trained in psychiatry.

From the variety of these presentations by eminent Japanese physicians, we gained a valuable overview of what's happening on the thyroid scene in Japan. Our thanks to Dr. Akasu for making these arrangements.

A Spectacular Setting

The opening ceremonies of the Congress, held in the spectacular setting of the Kyoto International Conference Hall, were magnificent. Classical Gagaku drummers and musicians, using traditional instruments, commanded our attention. In addition to the dignitaries, outstanding researchers and organizers who gave short addresses, the Congress was greatly honoured by the presence of their Imperial Highnesses, Prince Takamodo and Princess Takamodo. The Prince in his remarks demonstrated not only his knowledge of thyroid disease and the value of research but also his sense of humour with his appropriate story of the princess and the frog.

Travelling to Japan and tasting, however briefly, its culture was indeed a unique experience, leaving us all greatly enriched. Our dream is to return one day. Sayonara.

Kyoto Footnote

An interesting footnote to the Kyoto Conference for me was meeting a former colleague of my husband in Tokyo. Dr. Suehiro is spending his retirement time researching and writing a history of thyroid disease - in Japanese, of course. Back in Canada, with the help of inter-library loan via the Rochester General Hospital in New York State, I was able to track down an article by Dr. C.T. Sawin on that subject and send it off to Japan. My own small contribution to education!

JRB, Editor