The 41st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Oral Oncology will be held online from January 26^th (Thursday) to February 28^th (Tuesday), 2023. Okayama University will host this meeting after 21 years since Professor Tomohiro Matsumura (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) served as the chairman in 2002.

Nowadays, Japan has been facing many complex issues, such as the progress of a super-aging society, preparation for large-scale natural disasters, and dealing with the problem of global warming. We must boldly take on the challenges of solving these issues and thereby opening up new prospects for the future generation. In the field of oral oncology, there is a need to create fresh innovations and develop challenging treatment and diagnostic methods based on new, bold ideas that are not extensions of conventional technologies. In the hope of that, the theme of this conference is "Singularity - A great change in oral oncology". Singularity (the technological Singularity) is a concept of future science proposed by Raymond Kurzweil, an American inventor and futurist who has a massive influence on the world's artificial intelligence research, and Singularity refers to the point when artificial intelligence (AI) will be able to replace humanity as the central player of civilization's progress. Extensive data analysis and the application of AI and DX through the advancement of information science make it possible to construct high-dimensional analysis capabilities and algorithms that exceed human capabilities. In medicine and biology fields, radical innovations based on advanced technologies have already begun, and new approaches are being taken to diagnose and treat various diseases. At this meeting, we will focus on innovative technologies in oral oncology and hope to provide various topics that will provoke new ideas and lead to some significant changes in the future of oral oncology. In addition, we would like to discuss multiple issues related to oral oncology with a view to the post-covid world by specialists from a wide range of specialized fields. We sincerely hope the outcomes of this meeting will yield the results for tomorrow's clinical practice.

The novel COVID-19 situation is ever-changing with uncertainties. Therefore, considering the safety of participants and related parties, we have decided to hold the conference online. The main live streaming contents will also be available on demand during the period, and many on-demand contents will be provided to enable more people to participate effectively and flexibility. We understand that this is a difficult time for everyone. However, we are looking forward to your participation in our academic meeting in the new era.