Let us Innovate with the Possibilities of Oleoscience!

 

President of the Annual Meeting
Yoshimune Nonomura
 

 

　Yonezawa is well-known for its delicious meat. Salami and beef bento boxes are the most popular items. However, fish from Shonai and Niigata are also excellent, and when paired with sake from a local brewery, one can experience true culinary delight. The number of ramen shops per capita is the largest in Japan, and they offer a wide variety of unique food items, from soy sauce and spicy miso to tantanmen (noodles with sweet bean paste). The 62nd Japan Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting will be held in Yonezawa, a city known for its gourmet cuisine. Following the previous year's annual meeting in Kochi, we look forward to welcoming many members this year. 

Theme and Aim

　The theme of this year's meeting is "Let us Innovate with the Possibilities of Oleoscience!" in reference to Lord Uesugi Youzan, who promoted industries that have continued to the present day and restored the clan's finances. When I reflect on the unique strengths of the Japan Oil Chemists' Society, it is evident that it is due to the fact that not only the so-called academia but also researchers and engineers from industry gather together, actively present their research findings, and plan and manage their projects in a collaborative manner. Therefore, we decided to hold the Industry–Academia Collaboration Symposium to introduce the latest trending topics from universities, research institutes, and industry and to match seeds from academia with the needs of the industry. New encounters and unexpected exchanges are the best part of face-to-face meetings, and we will continue to plan and prepare for this annual meeting such that it will be a fulfilling event that will lead to the birth of groundbreaking research and product ideas.
 

　Select Lectures that were introduced at the WCOS 2022 will be held again this year. In this program, we invite members to submit innovative research results, and we will select outstanding research results to be presented at the annual meeting.

 　The targeted research areas for this year's call are:
  1) oleomaterials and nanotechnology;
  2) lipids, fats, nutrition, health functions, and food science;
  3) surfactants, detergents, cleaning, and interface science.

　The awards include an Award of JOCS Select Lecturer, a supplementary prize of 30,000 yen, free registration and reception at the conference, and free publication in the Journal of Oleo Science. We encourage everyone to apply for this program. The selection results will be announced on April 19, 2024 (Friday).

 

The Public Lecture on Yamagata's excellent sake 

　A public lecture on the evening of September 4, the second day of the conference, will be given by Kenichiro Kojima, the 24th head brewer and President of Kojima Sohonten, a leading sake brewery in Yonezawa, which was founded in the Azuchi-Momoyama period and later became the Uesugi family's official sake brewery. Located at the headwaters of the Mogami River and brewed by hand with groundwater from melting snow and Yamagata rice, the texture of the sake is extremely smooth and delicate. It has received numerous national and international awards. We hope that all conference participants will attend the public lecture and reception, which will enhance the taste of Yamagata’s sake.

Access and Accommodation

　Finally, we would like to provide information on access to the venue and accommodations. The Yamagata University Yonezawa Campus is just a few minutes' walk from the Minami-Yonezawa Station and one stop on the Yonezaka Line from the JR Yonezawa Station. You can also take a city bus from Yonezawa Station, but as is common with public transportation in rural areas, only approximately one bus service per hour is available, even during the morning and evening commuting hours. Therefore, we plan to operate a special shuttle bus between Yonezawa Station and the campus at the time of the conference start and end, so please take advantage of this service. We have also secured a business hotel in the city for your stay, which can be reserved through the dedicated website.