Yokohama Expands Leadership in International Conferences Receiving High Praise from Science and Academic Field

YOKOHAMA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau (YCVB) plans to support the various international conferences that are to be held in Yokohama in years to come. This year, in particular, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting and the Congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS2012) were successfully held for the first time in Asia, and a successful bid was made for the International Orthodontic Congress 2020 (IOC2020).

Yokohama's facilities and well rounded support systems are just two of the reasons why it is increasingly chosen as a site to hold conventions.

The bay area, stretching from the developing "Minato Mirai 21" area to Yamate, contains a variety of event centers and hotels including the PACIFICO Yokohama convention center, capable of accommodating 5,000 attendees. Visitors can enjoy shopping centers, parks, historical sights, a Chinatown, and many other attractions within convenient walking distance. Strong transport links are also available to nearby central Tokyo, with direct access to Haneda Airport and Narita Airport.

YCVB builds upon its wealth of experience to offer multi-faceted support to international conferences. Its comprehensive support covers all phases from preparation to acceptance, including assistance in making presentations during candidate selection, the provision of subsidies, PR, and the coordination of receptions and entertainment.

Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, Director of Center for iPS Cell Research and Application at Kyoto University, was installed as president of the ISSCR at its annual meeting in June. "Many of the world's leading researchers came to Japan thus facilitating exchanges with their Japanese counterparts. I expect that, through such stimulating opportunities, joint research between Japanese and overseas researchers will come about. At the reception afterwards, researchers from overseas had the opportunity to chat with their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and the Empress, making it a most memorable occasion. Such an opportunity was possible only because the meeting was held in Yokohama," said Dr. Yamanaka.

YCVB plans to support over 20 international conferences between now and 2020, starting next year with the Human Proteome Organisation World Congress, which is being held in Japan for the first time. We will also be exhibiting at Las Vegas in October during IMEX America 2012, the world's largest MICE exhibition.

For further details of YCVB visit: http://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/eng/convention/