It is a great honor and privilege for the Department of Orthopaedics at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine to host the 40th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Limb Reconstruction and External Fixation, which will be held over two days on Friday, March 26, and Saturday, March 27, 2027, at Kyoto Institute, Library and Archives (Rekisaikan).

The roots of our society date back to 1988, when the late Dr. Shiro Inoue, an alumnus of our university, founded the "Japanese Society for External Fixation." Over the years, following mergers and name changes in response to the demands of the times, the society evolved into its current form, the "Japanese Society of Limb Reconstruction and External Fixation", in 2022. For decades, it has played a vital role as a forum where orthopaedic surgeons and related healthcare professionals from Japan and around the world gather to exchange cutting-edge knowledge and refine technologies in limb reconstruction and external fixation.

The theme for this milestone 40th meeting is "Encounters (Wakuraba): Connecting Skills, Knowledge, and People". The Japanese word Wakuraba signifies a chance encounter or unexpected meeting. We hope this conference will serve as a venue where all professionals involved in limb reconstruction can encounter refined "skills", state-of-the-art "knowledge", and invaluable unexpected "personal connections". We believe that the true essence of medicine lies within these multifaceted encounters.

Set against the backdrop of Kyoto in early spring, we are preparing a rich academic and educational program that inspires new insights and fosters meaningful discussions on the future of limb reconstruction.

It is our sincere wish that this annual meeting provides you with a rewarding experience of "encounters" and contributes to the further advancement of limb reconstruction and external fixation in Japan.

Our entire team looks forward to welcoming you to Kyoto!

Kenji Takahashi, MD, PhD Congress President, The 40th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Limb Reconstruction and External Fixation Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine