Dear Colleagues,

It is a great pleasure to announce that the 29th Annual and International Meeting of Japanese Association for Animal Cell Technology (JAACT) will be held at the Kobe International Conference Center in Kobe, Japan on November 9-12, 2016. We would like to solicit your gracious presence at this meeting, JAACT2016 Kobe.

Kobe is the top sake brewing region in Japan. In Kobe, many sake breweries have produced rich-flavored sake for about 300 years, so Kobe has developed biotechnology for a very long time. Today Kobe is also one of the largest biomedical clusters in Japan. In 2013, the Manufacturing Technology Association of Biologics (MAB) was established in Japan to develop next-generation production technologies for biopharmaceuticals. The GMP facilities of MAB have just been completed in Kobe in 2015. So I believe Kobe is an ideal place for discussing both traditional and cutting-edge animal cell technologies. We wish all of you will come to Kobe and grasp “Something New!” at JAACT2016 Kobe.

Kobe is located in the mid-west of Japan, Kansai Region. Kobe offers easy access for overseas visitors. Kansai International Airport is the closest international gateway for Kobe. Bullet trains (Shinkansen trains) are available at Shin-Kobe station. Kobe is one of the most attractive cities in Japan. Kobe is surrounded by the sea and the mountains. There are many wonderful sightseeing spots in the city. In Kobe, you can also enjoy delicious foods including traditional Japanese food, Kobe beef, sake, and sweets.

We are looking forward, with great anticipation, to seeing you in Kobe in November, 2016.

Sincerely yours,

Hideki YAMAJI, Ph.D Chairman of JAACT2016 Kobe