This year's 18th Symposium on Biorelevant Chemistry will be held at the Tsukuba International Congress Center, the same venue as the 5th symposium held after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, which some of you may remember. Although many natural disasters and unprecedented pandemics caused by COVID19 have occurred in the past 13 years, we are very happy to have this precious opportunity to meet with you again this year and to engage in active discussions. I would also like to express my respect and gratitude to all the members of the organizing committee and all those involved who have managed this symposium in the face of various difficulties.
    On the first and second days of the symposium, we are planning to hold luncheon seminars for the first time in many years, and we hope that many of you will attend. In addition to the two invited lectures, special lectures will be held this year. The members of the organizing committee are looking forward to the presentations by the speakers as much as you are.
    In addition, as a new initiative this year, we are planning to invite high school students from a designated super science high school in Tsukuba City to give poster presentations. We hope that high school students will have an opportunity to meet enthusiastic researchers and imagine themselves as future leaders of science.
    The executive committee will make every effort to make this symposium a fruitful opportunity for exchange of information and interaction. We look forward to your participation in Tsukuba City, which is located about 40 minutes from Akihabara by Tsukuba Express train and is home to numerous research institutes in a lush green environment, including Mount Tsukuba. We look forward to your participation.

     With my best regads,

Chikashi NAKAMURA
Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)