On January 24, 2026, I was appointed as the ninth president of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR). It is an extraordinary honor to assume the presidency of this organization, recognized for its longstanding history and tradition, and I fully acknowledge the significance of this responsibility. Since its founding in 1973, the JSCCR has played a leading role in advancing clinical practice and research in the field of colorectal cancer in Japan.

The advancement of colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment in Japan has progressed independently of international trends in several significant areas. This distinctive progress is underpinned by three principal pillars established by the JSCCR: the Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma, the JSCCR Guidelines for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer, and the National Colorectal Cancer Registry. The first edition of the Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma was published by the JSCCR in 1977, four years after our establishment, and has since served as a staging manual, providing standardized terminology for clinical practice and research. In 2005, the first edition of the JSCCR Guidelines for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer was published with the aim of standardizing the treatment across the nation. Today, both platforms are at the core of colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment in Japan. Initiated in 1980, the National Colorectal Cancer Registry has created a high-quality database of clinical and pathological information, continuously contributing to the understanding of the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological characteristics of colorectal cancer in our country, as well as supporting clinical and research activities. Registration began with cases of 1974, and to date, the real-world data on 274,000 cases have been accumulated, all based on the definitions set forth in the Japanese Classification of Colorectal Carcinoma.

In recent years, the activities of the JSCCR have steadily expanded. In 2012, the JSCCR Guidelines for the Clinical Practice of Hereditary Colorectal Cancer were published, followed by the JSCCR Guidelines for the Clinical Practice of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Associated Intestinal Neoplasia in 2024. In 2025, the Japanese Classification of Small Intestinal (Jejunal and Ileal) Carcinoma has been published, and work on developing guidelines for the management of small intestinal cancer will commence. Enhancing patient-centered guidelines to facilitate understanding of standard diagnostic and treatment procedures for patients and their families is also an important initiative, ensuring clarity and confidence in the care they receive. Active involvement of the JSCCR’s committees and project-based research play a crucial role in informing and updating our staging manuals and guidelines.

The JSCCR has made significant international contributions to the advancement of colorectal cancer practices across various disciplines. Notably, evidence derived from multicenter studies conducted within the JSCCR framework—including developments such as the D3 dissection and the 10 cm resection margin rule in colon cancer surgery, lateral pelvic lymphadenectomy in lower rectal cancer surgery, endoscopic classification and treatment protocol for superficial tumors, treatment algorithms for pT1 tumors post-endoscopic resection, and the identification and evaluation criteria of novel pathological factors such as tumor budding, submucosal invasion depth, and extramural tumor deposits—have had a considerable impact on the surgical, endoscopic, pathological, and medical oncology fields at an international level. Ongoing collaboration with international colleagues will further strengthen these longstanding initiatives and contribute to progress in global colorectal cancer patient care. Your enduring support and partnership are sincerely acknowledged and valued.

Hideki Ueno
February 2026