We are grateful to host the 110th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Urological Association in April 2023 in Kobe after postponement for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The main theme of the 110th Annual Meeting is "Ever Onward." We have chosen the theme as it represents our spirit in pursuit of the new — we have constantly pursued new scientific knowledge, innovations and advances since the establishment of the Japanese Urinary Diseases Study Association (predecessor of the Japanese Urological Association) in 1912. We have also set three sub-themes: 1) First Penguin, 2) Scrap and Build, and 3) Cross Innovation. A spirit of trying new things is essential for advances. It takes courage to start something that no one else has ever done. “First Penguin” is an expression that symbolizes the behavior of the first penguin to jump into a rough sea to procure food for the young. Secondly, it is important to destroy the old to build the new. “Scrap and Build” stands for an evolutionary process of transforming the old into something new while preserving the virtues of the old. Finally, we should also point out that the progress achieved by cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary efforts and industry-academia-government collaboration has changed medical treatment. Interdisciplinary communication and information exchange is important for the development of daily clinical practice and medical research. This is what "Cross Innovation" is all about. We would like to present many studies and projects initiated by collaboration among industry, academia, and government and directly linked to future urology practice. We hope to promote direct communication between companies and academia on-site through effective use of the spacious exhibition hall. We are also preparing a diverse program to attract you to visit the exhibition hall. We hope you will enjoy it.

In this Annual Meeting, we ask all the presenters to make abstracts, posters and slides in English to promote globalization. Moreover, we accept more and more female speakers and chairpersons from the viewpoint of diversity. We believe these attempts represent “First Penguin” and they lead to “Ever Onward.”

Academic conferences held in online or hybrid format have become popular amidst the coronavirus crisis. Nonetheless, we believe that the true value of an academic conference lies, after all, in face-to-face meetings, discussions, and exchanges. As such, we have designed a diverse program in line with the main theme and sub-themes, aiming to attract as many on-site participants as possible. We intend to make the Annual Meeting of the Japanese Urological Association a thrilling event where you will enjoy on-site participation to the fullest. We look forward to seeing many of you there.