WFSA and the Land of the Rising Sun

It was a truly memorable day, 19 September 1972, when the 5th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA), sponsored by the World Federation of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) and organised by the Japanese Society of Anaesthesiologists (JSA), took place in the beautiful city of Kyoto, an ancient capital of Japan. This congress was presided over by Professor Hideo Yamamura, University of Tokyo, and chaired by the late Professor Akira Inamoto, Kyoto University. The Opening Ceremony of the 1st day of this meeting was attended by the “Kohtaishi” (Prince of Japan, now the “Tennoh”, the Emperor) and his wife, Princess Michiko, and many other cabinet and local government representatives. Now, I think it is time that second — and third-generation members of JSA should host the WCA in Japan in the near future, welcoming as many WFSA members as possible from all over the world.