Now in my fourth and final year as president, I look back on the past three years marked by transformation and milestones. These include the transition to a general incorporated association, the introduction of the Councilor system, the open-access transition of our official journal Neuroscience Research (NSR), and last summer's 48th Annual Meeting, commemorating the Society's founding anniversary. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our members, and I extend my deepest gratitude. Membership has now reached 6,500 — a new high that further strengthens the foundation our society. Guided by the vision of "Our Neuroscience Society," which I presented when I took office, I am dedicated to making further progress during this final year of my term.

The 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (July 2025, Niigata) concluded successfully with approximately 3,000 attendees. The commemorative symposium for the Society's 50th anniversary offered a moment to reflect on half a century of neuroscience in Japan, while sparking passionate discussions about the future. Sharing a sense of determination with all participants — to carry forward the intellectual legacy built by our pioneers and forge ahead into a new era — was a source of immense pride and joy. Once again, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to President Fujiyama and the entire organizing committee.

Last year, elections were held for Councilor positions, resulting in the selection of 143 new Councilors. Candidates from the younger and midcareer generations actively stepped forward, and the generational diversity of the council continues to grow. With the Board of Directors elected by and from the Councilors under a transparent system, I sincerely hope that more next-generation members will run for office in future elections, participate in committee activities, and take ownership of "Our Society."

Turning to the international landscape, changes in U.S. research funding policy and rising geopolitical tensions are affecting the nature of international collaborative research. It is precisely in times like these that solidarity within the academic community — and the preservation of science's universality and openness — becomes essential. The Japan Neuroscience Society has steadily expanded its global network through activities with IBRO, SfN, CJK (China-Japan-Korea), and FAONS, as well as through bilateral partnerships. Last summer at K-Brain (KSBNS) 2025 and the 3rd CJK Neuroscience Meeting in Incheon, I witnessed the enthusiasm of the many young neuroscientists in attendance and was struck by the remarkable vitality of the neuroscience community across East Asia. We will continue to strengthen these collaborations and further elevate the international presence of Japanese neuroscience.

The society is also actively engaged in the ongoing public solicitation for Roadmap 2026 (Large-Scale Academic Research Projects) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), as well as discussions on forming brain science research hubs. The field of neuroscience benefits from both bottom-up funding through Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) and largescale top-down support through AMED and related programs—a relatively favorable environment compared to many other disciplines. However, sustaining and advancing this situation requires broad societal understanding and support. Alongside our commitment to supporting the career development of young researchers, we earnestly ask all members to help communicate the importance of neuroscience to society through outreach and public engagement. We believe that when each of us takes personal ownership of this mission, we collectively build the foundation for a sustainable research environment.

We look forward to welcoming many of you at Neuro2026, the 49th annual meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society in Kobe, in July 2026. Building on the foundation of our 50th anniversary, we hope to advance the future of neuroscience together with all of you toward the next half-century. We deeply appreciate your continued support and cooperation.