We are pleased to announce that the 124th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Medical Physics will be held at Nagasaki Brick Hall from September 16 to 17, 2022. I am Shinji Kawamura, the congress chair. I am very looking forward to seeing you in Nagasaki. On behalf of the organization committee, I would like to outline the features of the congress and the advantages of Nagasaki.

SARS-CoV-2(Covid-19) infection is still threatening human society two years after the outbreak. Our social activities and lifestyles have changed drastically. Academic congresses are now held online or on demand. Research and education have been greatly affected. We are facing obstacles to human connection and cooperation. The medical physics field is also required to respond to these changes. Therefore, the medical physics society needs to shift to a creative future development called "New Normal". For the future of medical physics, I believe that it is very important for medical physicists to academically collaborate across affiliations, professions, generations, genders, and specialties. For this reason, the theme of this congress is " New Developments in Medical Physics with Collaboration Across Research Fields ".

Based on this theme, we will implement a variety of programs to deepen our collaboration at this congress. We will use a teaser-presentation format in which participants watch short presentation videos in the main hall and move to each presentation room for face to face discussions. We will also have debates to explore objectives and logical thinking, as well as presentations about ongoing projects by related companies, so that participants can share useful information with each other. We hope that many participants will make use of this congress as a place to exchange ideas.

As you know, Nagasaki City, after the tragic atomic bombing, has been leading Japan's researches in radiation science, including radiobiology, radiation protection, and radiation disaster medicine. It is also the only city in our country that opened its doors to the world during the long period of national isolation, and has a unique cultural heritage that combines the West, China, and Japan. Even in terms of food, we can enjoy mixed culture. Moreover we can enjoy abundant seafood such as squid, horse mackerel, shrimp, pike, and pufferfish, thanks to the benefits of the Tsushima Current. Nagasaki is a fascinating city that stimulates the human intellect and senses. I believe that Nagasaki is the most suitable place to share knowledge and foster ideas for those of us who should aim for new developments in medical physics.

Although the effects of Covid-19 infection are unpredictable, I sincerely hope that many of you will come to Nagasaki and deepen your "cooperation" through wonderful experiences and fruitful exchanges.