The Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan

Dr. Kishio HATAI / President

What is “The Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan”?

In the countries located in the monsoon district of high-temperature and -humidity, health damage caused by microorganisms such as bacteria and molds as well as quality deterioration of clothing, foods, housing and environment are serious trouble in our life. The microorganism damage forms no exception to the cultural heritage of national treasures, which are recent popular topics in the mass media. However, microorganisms having unmeasurable ability are first living being born on the earth,and some microorganisms are useful organism species for human beings. Microorganisms recovery earth's environment decomposing waste matter eliminated from living organisms including human beings, in particular organic chemical agents. In addition, they provide delicious fermented foods and valuable antibiotic medicines for us.

The aim of this society is not to extinguish microorganisms but to control their growth to manufacture undamaged products and to create uncontaminated environment. In other words, this society is an academic organization to promote the exchange of information of weapon and strategy among industrial/academic/governmental researchers and engineers to control effectively the growth environment of microorganisms physically, chemically as well as biologically, thus to contribute to the social welfare by gathering knowledge and wisdom of our members. This society is responsible for the field not neglected to solve now-focusing earth’s environmental problems by the use of microorganisms having multiple abilities.

To achieve our aims, a monthly official journal “Bokin Bobai” in Japanese with abstracts in English and a quarterly “Biocontrol Science” in English are periodically published (“Bokin Bobai” means “Antibacterial and Antifungal” in English) . Furthermore, in addition to annual conference, a variety of seminars, symposia, conferences, technical workshops and research committees are held from time to time. Such activities would promote an antibacterial and antifungal academic exchange ranging from basic to applied fields. We are expecting a much more development of this academic organization contributing to human beings and wellness in the 21st century.

An Inaugural Address of the New President

I am charged with a president of this society for two year ahead since the 1st June, 2009. To manage the society, I would like to consult closely with members of a meeting of trustees and a meeting of directors. The greater cooperation of our members is highly appreciated.

As was described in the “Welcome to The Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan!”, there are many serious problems in a wide field of this society, considering the current social circumstances. For example, safety/security and risk control of foods; emerging and reemerging infections such as norovirus and BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy); microbial control in the medical field including hospitals and nursing-care facilities; sterilization validation in a manufacturing process of medical products; countermeasures against mold contamination of cultural heritage and other similar issues. In addition, the international standardization of many sterilization/disinfection methods, the development of new test methods of a wide variety of microorganisms, the discussion of an appropriate on-site use of microorganisms and other issues are also current serious problems. Our society would like to cope with these problems properly. Kind active advices and eager suggestions of members to the secretariat are welcome. Your advices and suggestions would be dealt with on an official journal or home page as far as possible.

Finally, the increase of the number of our members is essential for the further development of these fields. For some years ago, the number of members has continued to decrease gradually. I understand that my greatest duty would be to cancel the decreasing tendency of members and to increase the number of members. In the least two years to come, I would like to try to increase the number of regular members over 2,000 and total members over 2,500 including individual and corporate members. Members of this society are encouraged to tempt neighboring friends and colleagues to join this society. The president heartily aspires that many colleagues related to the science of microorganisms would join this society.