Dear Colleagues,

It gives us great pleasure to host the 11th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery in Yokohama, Japan, from September 2 to 5, 2008 which is in conjunction with the 21st Annual Meeting of Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery (JSES) and is incorporated with Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia 2008 (ELSA). On behalf of the organizing committee, we welcome each and every one of you to this great event which provides an excellent opportunity to share the advanced skills and knowledge in the field of endoscopic surgery.

At the congress, we hope that all participants will capture the important changes and further progress in the development of minimally invasive surgery for cancer, obesity, etc. We are sure that there will be a wealth of important new information and knowledge for young fellows to obtain from the many senior experts from all over the world in this meeting.

With a population of over 3.6 million people, Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan. It is located less than 30 minutes south of Tokyo. Yokohama is the city capable of offering warm hospitality with the international flavor, which comes from its history as a port. It is one of the first Japanese ports to be opened for foreign trade, and has a good access to Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and many other places of interests. In Yokohama, you can also have a good selection of Japanese seafood and Chinese cuisines from the city’s Chinatown, one of the world's largest.

We very much look forward to meeting you in Yokohama for this special occasion. The fulfillment of your expectation in academic exchange and social interaction is guaranteed.

Masaki Kitajima, MD, FACS, FRCS(hon), FASA(hon) Honorary President 11th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery	Seigo Kitano, MD, PhD, FACS Organizing President 11th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery 21st Annual Meeting of Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery