About us
Message
I am honored to have been appointed as the 7th Chair of the Japanese Society for Epigenetics. Next year (2026) will mark the 20th anniversary of the Society’s founding, and the Annual Meeting in 2027 will be our 20th gathering. I have been involved with the Society since its establishment, and being entrusted with this important role at such a memorable milestone fills me with a deep sense of responsibility. I sincerely appreciate your support over the next three years.
When the Society was founded, epigenetics research was entering a phase of rapid expansion. The fundamental mechanisms governing DNA methylation, histone modifications, and their analytical technologies were still under development. Researchers studying a wide variety of organisms and biological phenomena gathered at the Society in search of new insights. Nearly twenty years have passed since then, and during this time the basic roles of chemical modifications involved in epigenetic regulation have become clearer, foundational analytical methods have been established, and information on histone modifications, DNA methylation, and higher-order chromatin structure across diverse cell types has accumulated at an accelerating pace. Nevertheless, the full picture of epigenetics is far from complete. On the contrary, as we have come to recognize the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in numerous biological processes—and their inherent complexity—understanding them has become even more important. Analytical technologies have also advanced rapidly, evolving from bulk cell analyses to single-cell approaches, and from isolated-cell analyses to spatially resolved profiling. Precisely because we now live in an era overflowing with vast amounts of epigenetic and epigenomic data, it is increasingly valuable for researchers from related fields to gather at the Japan Epigenetics Research Society, engage in direct discussion, and exchange and synthesize information. Such interactions are not only important for each individual researcher, but will undoubtedly contribute to the further advancement of epigenetics research in Japan.
The number of Society members increased steadily in the early years, but has now reached a stable level. Since its founding, the annual membership fee—3,000 yen for regular members and 1,000 yen for students—has been kept relatively low. However, due to rising costs in recent years, the annual fee for regular members will be revised to 5,000 yen starting in FY2026. With this adjustment, we aim to further enhance our activities. Thanks to the efforts of former Chair Professor Takashi Ito, Public Relations Committee Chair Professor Yutaka Kondo, and the entire Public Relations Committee, the Society’s webinar series began this year. Through initiatives such as these and our annual meetings, I hope to contribute to the continued development of epigenetics research.
Hiroshi Kimura, Ph.D.
Chairperson of the JSE
Professor
Institute of Integrated Research
Institute of Science Tokyo
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