Dear Members of the International League Against Epilepsy,

With 2009 rapidly drawing to a close, I hope all of you have had a fruitful year. This past year has been busy for the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), with elections both for the Executive Committee and Regional Commissions. Thanks to your support, Tatsuya Tanaka was elected as the First Vice President of the Executive Committee, and I, Sunao Kaneko, was elected to be a Member of the Commission of Asian and Oceanian Affairs (CAOA). We are sincerely grateful for your support in these elections.

This year has been busy for the Japan Epilepsy Society as well. This year, our society of 2000 doctors also held elections, which takes place every four years. During the General Assembly in October 2009, I was elected to succeed Tatsuya Tanaka as President for the term of 2009-2013. On that occasion, I convened the 43rd Congress of the Japan Epilepsy Society as chairman, and also organized an international symposium on the theme of Pharmacogenomics in Epilepsy, held the next day.

Academically, I have concentrated my efforts on genetic studies of epilepsy. Great advances in this field have been made in the last two decades; not only in the elucidation of the pathophysiology of epilepsy, but a new age of treatment for epilepsy is also unfolding. Although the extent of epilepsy globally leaves little room for optimism, I believe that if all ILAE members join forces to advance this research, we will bring benefit to people with epilepsy.

With cooperation from Past President Tatsuya, I would like to advance the Japan Epilepsy Society with an aim of achieving a globally open society. To this end, Akio Ikeda will serve as Chair of the Commission of International Affairs, and Masako Watanabe serve as Secretary General. Your continued support and advice are greatly appreciated.

I wish you a very successful 2010.

Sunao Kaneko, MD., PhD.

President, Japan Epilepsy Society

Member, Commission of Asian and Oceanian Affairs