ME in the field of ME in Japan

ME in ME?

The title is not a typographical error. In Japanese, biomedical engineering is often abbreviated to ME. In fact, the name of the Japan Society of Medical Electronics and Biological Engineering (JSME&BE) in Japanese is 'Nihon (Japan) ME Gakkai (Society)'. As you know, ME can be short for 'mechanical engineering'. Thus, biomedical engineering may well have a close correlation with mechanical engineering in Japan.

The Japan Society has around 20 research groups, in which researchers in particular fields get together regularly to discuss their mutual interests. Among them is the Research Group on Biomechanics. It was founded by Professor Yasuyuki Seguchi (Osaka University, deceased) in 1985, and since then it has organised five to six seminars a year in various cities in Japan. Each seminar has four to six talks and 15 to 50 participants.

Another important and large group specialising in biomechanics in Japan is the Bioengineering Division in the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME). This division was formed in 1987 under the leadership of Professors Yasuyuki Seguchi and Kozaburo Hayashi (Hokkaido University at that time, Osaka University at present) and initiated the Biomechanics Conference, the first meeting specialised in biomechanics in Japan, 1988 in Sapporo. The division has been growing in size and more than 1600 JSME members register themselves as members at present. It organises two scientific meetings a year: its annual meeting, the Bioengineering Conference, and the Summer Bioengineering Conference and Seminar to encourage young researchers. More than 360 papers in total were presented at the two conferences last year.

Apart from the two groups mentioned above, we have many more academic societies relating to biomechanics. To foster the further development of biomechanics research in this country, the Japan National Committee on Biomechanics was founded in 1993. It now has 20 member societies from a wide range of academic disciplines including JSME&BE, the Bioengineering Division of JSME, Japanese Society for Artificial Organs, Japanese Society of Biomechanics, Japanese Orthopaedic Association, and Physiological Society of Japan.

WCB'98

Coinciding with recent developments of biomechanics research, the Japan National Committee on Biomechanics will host the Third World Congress of Biomechanics (WCB'98) at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan, 2-8 August, 1998 (see Table).

Recently, the Congress Chair, Professor Kozaburo Hayashi (Osaka University) and the Congress Vice Chairs, Professors Yasusuke Hirasawa (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine), Hiromasa Ishikawa (Hokkaido University), and Yuji Matsuzaki (Nagoya University) announced the following message on WCB'98:

"The scientific program of WCB'98 has much to offer to the participants. The program consists of plenary lectures, tutorial lectures, symposia, and free communications. These lectures and symposia will enable you to obtain information on recent progress of biomechanics and to discuss the state-of-the-art in particular areas. With the contributed papers for the oral and poster presentations, you can present your own work and have fruitful discussion through face-to-face communication.

The Congress will be held on Hokkaido University campus in Sapporo. Hokkaido means road ("do") to the north seas ("Hokkai"). It is the large northernmost island of the Japanese archipelago. Sapporo, with a population of approximately 1.8 million, is the fifth largest city in Japan and the political and economic centre of Hokkaido. Most Japanese people consider Sapporo to be one of the most desirable places in Japan to visit, because of its wonderful natural beauty and modernised but quiet town. Its comfortable and festive summer attracts many visitors.

As the last Word Congress this century, WCB'98 will lead us all towards the 21st century with growing collaboration among biomechanics scientists. Your participation is the key to the success of the Congress. We hope that you will exchange and share your knowledge and experience with scientists from all over the world."

Table 1: Outline of the Third World Congress of Biomechanics

PLENARY LECTURERS	1. Hemodynamics and the Artery Wall, D. P. Giddens (USA)
	2. Load and Energy Aspects in Locomotion, B. M. Nigg (Canada)
	3. Biomechanics in Orthopaedics – Report from the Junction of the Body and the Mind, L. Ryd (Sweden)
	4. Imaging and Nano-Manipulation of Single Biomolecules as Work: Working Principle of Biological Molecular Machines, T. Yanagida (Japan)
	5. The Coronary Circulation, N. Westerhof (The Netherlands)
TUTORIAL LECTURERS	6. Coronary Artery Geometry and Dynamics and their Relation to Atherosclerotic Disease, M. H. Friedman (USA)
	7. Heart Contraction and Energy Consumption, H. Suga (Japan)
	8. Pulmonary Fluid Mechanics, R. D. Kamm (USA)
	9. The Role of Trachea in the Respiratory Mechanics, G. A. Lyubimov (Russia)
	10. Hierarchical Structure Function Relationships in Bone, S. A. Goldstein (USA)
	11. The Biomechanics of Ligaments and Ligament Scars, C. B. Frank (Canada)
	12. Biomechanics of ACL Reconstruction, K. Shino (Japan)
	13. The Application of Biomechanics to the Study of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Patellar Tendon Graft in-Vivo, B. D. Beynnon (USA)
	14. Biomechanics of Back Pain, M. H. Pope (USA)
	15. Biomechanical Response of the Craniofacial Bones to Orthodontic and Orthopaedic Stimuli, K. Tanne (Japan)
	16. Cell Mechanics: Technique and Measurement with Single Cells, R. M. Hochmuth (USA)
	17. Flow Dynamics in Artificial Organs, H. M. Reul (Germany)
	18. Optical Estimation of Bone Position and Orientation During Movement, A. Cappozzo (Italy)
	19. Three-Dimensional Measurement of Human Back Movement, M. Pearcy (Australia)
	20. Application of Poroelasticity to Biomechanics, B. R. Simon (USA)
SYMPOSIA	21. Haemodynamics and Vascular Disease;
	22. Computational Studies of Fluid-Structure Interactions in the Cardiovascular System;
	23. Fluid-Solid Interactions in Living Organisms;
	24. Progress in Arterial Wall Mechanics;
	25. Cardiac Mechanics;Respiratory Mechanics;
	26. Biomechanics of Fracture Fixation;
	27. Properties and Remodeling of Bone;
	28. Muscle Mechanics and Movement Control;
	29. Kinesiology and Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Joint Movement;
	30. Biomechanics of Diarthroidal Joints Revisited: 1998;
	31. Biomechanics of Tendons and Ligaments;
	32. Dynamics of Spinal System;
	33. Biomechanics for Reconstruction of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine;
	34. Biomechanics of Clash Injury and Impact;
	35. Bone Remodeling in Maxillofacial Region;
	36. Biomechanical Approach to Maxillofacial Function;
	37. Mechanobiology: The Regulation of Cellular Activity by Mechanical Stimuli;
	38. Bioheat Transfer and Biomedical Thermal Engineering;
	39. Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Joint Replacement;
	40. Recent Progress in the Development of Artificial Organs;
	41. Flow Measurement for Hemodynamics;
	42. Recent Progress in the Measuring Techniques in Orthopaedic Biomechanics;
	43. Forensic and Trauma-Related Biomechanics
FREE COMMUNICATIONS	44. Cardiovascular Biomechanics;
	45. Respiratory Biomechanics;
	46. Bone and Hard Tissue Biomechanics;
	47. Musculo-Skeletal Biomechanics;
	48. Joint Biomechanics;
	49. Spine Biomechanics;
	50. Head Biomechanics;
	51. Oromaxillofacial Biomechanics;
	52. Sensory Organs Mechanics;
	53. Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics;
	54. Connective Tissue Biomechanics;
	55. Biorheology;
	56. Biofluid Dynamics;
	57. Biothermodynamics and Bioheat Conduction;
	58. Biomaterials and Medical Devices;
	59. Artificial Organs and Implants;
	60. Biomechanics and Rehabilitation;
	61. Physical Activities and Sports Biomechanics;
	62. Measuring and Analytical Methods for Biomechanics;
	63. Modeling and Simulation for Biomechanics;
	64. Animal Biomechanics;
	65. Others

Takeo Matsumoto

Email: takeo@biomech.mech.tohoku.ac.jp

Biomechanics Laboratory Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering Tohoku University Aramaki-Aoba, Sendai 980-8579, JAPAN.