19th International Symposium on
Epstein-Barr Virus and associated diseases

Greetings

President,
The 19th International Symposium on Epstein-Barr Virus and Associated Diseases.
Professor and Chairman,
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Asahikawa Medical University.

Yasuaki Harabuchi, M.D., Ph.D.

We are honored to invite you to the 19th International Symposium on Epstein-Barr virus and Associated Diseases to be held in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, Japan, on July 29th (Thu) and 30th (Fri), 2021, operating in a hybrid format, along with on-demand online streaming of presentations for about 2 weeks from August 2nd (Mon) to 15th (Sun), 2021.

The International Symposium on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Associated Diseases has been held biannually since 1984. The location of the symposium has alternated among Europe, Asia/Oceania, and the Americas. The symposium has kept attracting both researchers and clinicians worldwide whose interests are EBV virology, EBV immunology, and EBV-associated diseases/malignancies. The symposium is designed to provide updates on information concerning these areas. New topics along with new research developments will be addressed in this symposium.

During the past 16 years since the symposium was initially held in 1984, this is the first time it will be held in Japan. As well known, the characteristics of EBV-associated malignancies are quite different between Europe/America and east Asia/Japan.
For instance, nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the most common cancer in China. Chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV), post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), and hydroa vacciniforme (HV) develop into not only B-cell proliferative diseases, but also - and more frequently- into NK/T-cell proliferative diseases. EBV-associated lymphomas are commonly of the NK/T-cell type and occasionally of the B-cell type (excluding cases from opportunistic lymphoma). Therefore, participants will have the opportunity to meet numerous experts on EBV and EBV-associated diseases/malignancies from all over the world. This will also be discussed in the latest issue in this field. I would, therefore, like to welcome you from all over the world to Asahikawa.

You may not know Asahikawa quite well, so please let me briefly introduce Asahikawa and its surrounding areas. Asahikawa is located in the center of Hokkaido, the northernmost island among the 4 main islands of Japan. Unlike other parts of Japan, Hokkaido is a vast area, and has been known as the “New World” that has been developed only since the last century. Among the nearby areas of Asahikawa, Furano is covered with beautiful flowers, Biei has a landscape of hilly areas that looks like a colorful patchwork, and Mt. Tokachidake and Mt. Asahidake are also ideal places for trekking and hot springs (onsen).

In late July, Tokyo and Osaka are terribly hot and humid, while Asahikawa has a refreshing season. The blessing of nature welcomes visitors with beautiful sceneries. Asahikawa is a great food center where marine products from the three seas of Hokkaido and agricultural and livestock products from all over Hokkaido can be tasted. You can also enjoy a special brand of local sake (rice wine) brewed with pure water from an underground spring originating in Daisetsu mountain range. I am very happy to inform you that fresh seafood and a wide variety of products from Mother Earth will surely be another enjoyment during your stay in Asahikawa. Asahikawa warmly welcomes everyone to the Symposium!

I look forward to seeing all of you again in Asahikawa, on July 29 to 30, 2021.