On behalf of the International Society of Plasma Medicine, I am delighted to welcome you to the 5th International Conference on Plasma Medicine (ICPM5), which will be held from the 18th to the 23rd of May, 2014, in Nara, Japan.

The ICPM is a full-week conference this time (one day longer than the previous one) as we anticipate having more presentations and longer discussion time among participants during the conference. The field of "plasma medicine" is growing rapidly and we hope that the ICPM5 will provide an ideal venue for the exchange of new ideas and information, and also support the initiation or further development of international collaborations among those who work in this multidisciplinary field.

Let me briefly introduce you to the city of Nara. It is located in the Kansai region (central west) of Japan, close to Osaka and Kyoto. Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784, prior to Kyoto (794-1868), during which the framework of the national government of Japan was being consolidated. It was also a city of international cultures, with strong connections with Korea, China, Middle East, and even Europe through the Silk Road. Indeed the conference venue (Nara Prefectural New Public Hall) is surrounded by historic monuments of ancient Nara, UNESCO World Heritage. It seems to me that holding the ICPM5 here in Nara at this juncture signifies our aim to strengthen the foundation of emerging field of plasma medicine under truly international collaborations.

Satoshi Hamaguchi
Chair, ICMP5