Around the world the incidence and mortality rates for cancer continue to climb, with dramatic increases in cancer being recorded in Asia. This worldwide increase is also casting a long shadow over the global disease structure.

　Cancer displays strongly regional characteristics, and is influenced by such differences as genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors. Given the tremendous cultural diversity inherent in the Asian region, to date it has been extremely difficult to gain an accurate picture of the status of cancer in Asia. However, in November 2009 I convened the 20th Asia Pacific Cancer Conference (APCC) in Tsukuba in an attempt to collect the various data that to date have been amassed separately in haphazard fashion in a more scientific and systematic manner. The collection of data in this way made it clear that the basis for much research is comparative study of the epidemiological backgrounds between Asia and western countries. With the conviction that the key to overcoming cancer worldwide lies in such comparative study, at the APCC we were able to engage in various discussions and make advances in a number of areas. Working from the results of the APCC our foremost and urgent task is to identify the characteristics of cancer in Asia. From that point we can then determine the best approaches to tackling cancer in Asia, and also clarify how we can link our achievements in Asia to the task of conquering cancer around the world.

　Asian society is undergoing a transformation in the midst of a wave of globalization, which is also having a significant impact on disease trends in the region. I believe that Japan has a responsibility as a member of the Asian community to demonstrate a way forward that is centered on evidence-based data, and to create a platform for knowledge sharing that will enable the formulation of policy recommendations.