About 10 years ago, the 2009 Japan Endovascular Treatment Conference (JET2009) was held at Kansai International Airport in Izumi-Sano City, Osaka and chaired by Dr. Yoshiaki Yokoi, the president of JET at the time. I was living in Fukuoka in the southern island of Kyushu and just starting out as an EVT interventionist. That was my first experience attending a JET meeting and, although it is hard to explain in one sentence, it had a tremendous impact on me. I suddenly felt determined to try harder and work towards a higher goal so that, the very next year, in 2010, I transferred to Kishiwada Tokushukai Hospital to train under Dr. Yokoi. It, thus, became inevitable that I would become involved in the organization of the JET meetings and am still involved to this day.

What is JET? From my point of view, it is a profoundly open-minded Society which has the flexibility to evolve with the times and yet, has an unwavering commitment to its goals of developing and advancing optimal treatment strategies as well as highly skilled medical personnel. Whether a trainee or veteran, regardless of experience, expertise or nationality, JET is open to all who have the strong and clear will to develop and expand this field. No effort is spared in providing assistance and cooperation, and no idea or opinion is rejected. Consequently, every member is held to a high standard of responsibility and is required to expend the hard work necessary to get things done.

From the upcoming JET2020, it can be said that JET will be entering its second stage of development. Overseen by the Board of Directors, chaired by Dr. Osamu Iida of Kansai Rosai Hospital and organized by a proactive Program Committee, JET2020 is sure to be an educational and stimulating experience. It has also been decided that, from this year, the Chair will no longer change from year to year and the above team will work with continuous cooperation, showing JET’s commitment to the steady expansion and development of its programs and members.

Taking the JET2020 program a step further, sessions across 5 main tracks will be established, i.e., PAD, CLI, Aortic, Venous and AV access, and live demonstrations are planned for all 5 tracks. Along with plans to assist in the expansion of EVT techniques throughout Asia, we aim to make the JET meetings, in both name and substance, the largest and most advanced endovascular course in Asia. At each of the various sessions, expert speakers will be discussing the latest advances and important trending topics in EVT. The Program Committee members are presently working to put together a meeting with as much or more impact as I felt back in 2009 and we hope to share this excitement with all who will be participating.

As expressed in the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” we hope to go far with JET.

Masahiko Fujihara, MD JET2020 Steering committee head Kishiwada Tokushukai Hospital