About The Japan Endocrine Society

The Japan Endocrine Society (JES) was founded in June 1925, and is the second oldest society in the field of endocrinology next to the Endocrine Society of the United States founded in 1916. Since its establishment, the JES has undergone steady and continued growth, and is currently composed of more than 10,000 active members in the basic and clinical fields of endocrinology and metabolism. The Society is directed under the leadership of the Board of Directors chaired by Professor Yoshihiro Ogawa, President of the JES.   The Board of Directors is composed of 40 members elected from all the fields including internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, endocrine surgery, urology, neurosurgery, and basic sciences. The official English-language journal of the JES, Endocrine Journal, is published online every month, attracting papers from all over the world, and is growing as an international journal.

The largest event of the Society is Annual Congress of JES held every year, with more than 5,000 participants and about 1,000 abstracts in all the fields of endocrinology and metabolism. The JES also hosts two other nationwide assemblies each year. One of them is JES Summer Seminar on Endocrinology & Metabolism, which features hot topics on basic research related to endocrinology and metabolism. The other is JES Clinical Update on Endocrinology & Metabolism, which summarizes and discusses progress in clinical endocrinology and metabolism. The JES has its local divisions in nine regions of Japan; Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto-Koshinetsu, Tokai, Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu divisions. Each of these divisions holds their local meetings every year.

In order to develop specialists and to provide continued medical education in endocrinology and metabolism, the JES issues qualifications for Board Certified Endocrinologists. This certificate is issued following a nationwide examination, and is renewed every five years.  There are 3,900 Board Certified Endocrinologists in Japan as of June 2025. After clearing terms and other requirements, Board Certification Committee of the Society issues qualifications for Certified Endocrine Educator to Board Certified Endocrinologists. In order to become a Board Certified Endocrinologist, one must undergo trainings under the supervision of Certified Endocrine Educators for more than three years.

The JES is committed to the growth of basic and clinical sciences related to endocrinology and metabolism. The JES also welcomes opportunities for international exchange with any of the societies worldwide.

August 2025