Current situations surrounding microbiological studies in Japan
A deeper understanding of microorganisms is of vital importance not only for our culture but also for the future of mankind. Microbiological research areas dealing with viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa encompass many inter-related research areas, such as biological diversity, environmental conservation, biotechnology, emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, and bioterrorism. Microorganisms not only constitute important subjects for advanced life science studies but also play a vitally indispensable role in maintaining the earth and the environment and ensuring the future of mankind. Indeed, increasing significance is recognized in recent years of studying microorganisms from comprehensive points of view.

Looking back on current situations surrounding microbiological studies in Japan, discussions are carried out separately in different academic societies. Microbial genetics studies are discussed from the scientific point of view; biotechnology studies, including environmental microbiology from agricultural and engineering viewpoints, infection studies and countermeasures for bioterrorism, from medicine and veterinary perspectives; and microbial infection of plants from the plant pathology context. This makes it difficult to grasp an overview of the microbiological studies as a whole. In view of the circumstances, it is desired that a coordination body be established that subsumes and overlooks the currently disjointed microbiological studies. In particular, the need for coordination is evident when the issues related to biological resources are taken into account.

Globally speaking, the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) has been established and is actively working. As domestic counterparts to IUMS, we have the IUMS Subcommittee and the General Microbiology Subcommittee under the Science Council of Japan, which are unfortunately limited in terms of the breadth of research areas. To maintain a close relationship with the Science Council of Japan and independently help promote microbiology-related studies in Japan, it is necessary to establish a coordination body among microbiology-related academic societies.


Current situations surrounding microbiological studies in Japan
The General Microbiology Subcommittee (a joint organization by the Basic Biology Committee, Applied Biology Committee, and Basic Agriculture Committee) and the IUMS Subcommittee (a joint organization by the Basic Biology Committee, Basic Agriculture Committee, Production Agriculture Committee, Basic Medicine Committee, and Clinical Medicine Committee) under the Science Council of Japan held joint subcommittee meetings to discuss the coordination of microbiology-related academic organizations.

As a result, both the Subcommittees jointly established the Federation of Microbiological Societies Japan (FMS Japan) on February 7, 2007. The founding members are Fusao Tomita, Sumio Shinoda, Tadayuki Imanaka, Masao Mitsuyama, Akio Nomoto, and Toshihiro Horii.

For the time being, matters related to the FMS Japan are to be discussed among these founding members. Meetings of the board of directors will be held and additional committees established as necessary. Going forward, the founding members will consider implementing additional organization structures such as general meeting and council. Akio Nomoto (chairman of both of the Subcommittees under the Science Council of Japan) has been elected as representative of the FMS Japan.


Concept of the Federation of Microbiological Societies Japan
1. Purpose of establishment
The Federation of Microbiological Societies Japan will conduct the following activities in collaboration with the Science Council of Japan and its IUMS Subcommittee and General Microbiology Subcommittee:
(1) Strengthen coordination among domestic microbiology-related academic organizations, promote research and education relating to microbiological fields of study in general, and contribute to further development of these fields in Japan through social activities.
(2) Strive to publicize results of domestic microbiological studies globally.
(3) Strive to conduct international exchange as domestic microbiology-related organization belonging to the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS).
(4) Other matters.

2. Composition of members and financial basis
(1) Membership will be limited to institutional members (microbiology-related academic organizations such as academic societies and associations, and supporting members) for the time being. Membership for individuals will be considered in future.
(2) Each registered organization will elect one representative and dispatch such representative to the FMS Japan, as well as dispatch a member to various committees as necessary.
(3) Financial funds will be sourced from the share of expenses paid by constituent organizations, sponsorships from corporations, and contributions from supporting members (institutions and individuals). Business income through publications and seminars will be added in future. Share of expenses paid by each academic organization will be around 10,000 to 100,000 yen depending on the size of the organization.

3. Current membership of academic societies
The FMS Japan contacted each microbiology-related academic organization to request their participation. We have obtained support from the following 18 academic organizations (as of April 21, 2008).

The Japanese Society for Virology,
Japanese Society for Bacteriology,
The Japanese Society for Medical Mycology,
Japan Society for Lactic Acid Bacteria,
The Phytopathological Society of Japan,
Japanese Society of Mushroom Science and Biotechnology,
The Mycological Society of Japan, Japan Society for Culture Collections,
Japanese Society of Food Microbiology,
The Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents, Japan,
The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases,
The Japanese Society of Parasitology,
The Society for Biotechnology, Japan,
Japan Applied Microbiology Society,
The Society for Actinomycetes Japan,
Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology,
The Japanese Society for AIDS Research,
The Brewing Society of Japan

4. Provisional activity policies
Using the share of expenses paid by academic organizations intending to join the FMS Japan, we will launch our official website to start public relations activities, as well as establish communication channels with each academic organization, to disseminate information from the Science Council of Japan and IUMS to microbiology-related academic organizations.

The representative directors of the member academic societies will discuss the concept and operation method of the FMS Japan in detail at a later date. Our important activities for the foreseeable future include cooperation to IUMS 2008 (Istanbul) and preparation for IUMS 2011 (Sapporo) together with the Science Council of Japan.



The secretariat of the Federation of Microbiological Societies Japan will be established at the following:

Federation of Microbiological Societies Japan
c/o Microbiological Science Inc.
4-13-18 Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku,
Tokyo 112-0002, Japan
Fax: +81-3-6231-4035
Email: fmsj-office@umin.ac.jp