Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology

The Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology (JSMEZ; Japanese: 日本衛生動物学会) is a Japanese academic society dedicated to the study of sanitary animals, excluding protozoa and helminths. Its scope covers arthropods and other animals of medical importance, including vectors of infectious diseases such as mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and rodents; venomous animals such as snakes, bees, and poisonous moths; and nuisance insects and other arthropods such as cockroaches and chironomids. The society was established on 5 October 1943 at the University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine under the name Japan Society of Sanitary Entomology (日本衛生昆虫学会), following two preparatory 'Sanitary Insect Roundtable' meetings held earlier that year. Its first president was Mikinosuke Miyajima. Activities were suspended during the final years of World War II and the postwar reconstruction period. The society held its first general meeting in Kyoto in April 1949, and in 1950 it changed its name to the Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology and launched its journal, Eisei Dōbutsu (衛生動物). In 1951 it joined the Japan Medical Association as its 37th branch society. The society established the JSMEZ Award in 1955 and the Sasa Award in 1990. It is organized into four regional branches: North Japan, East Japan, West Japan, and South Japan. The current president, Kyoko Sawabe, took office in 2018. The society publishes the quarterly journal Medical Entomology and Zoology (formerly Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology), available in print and on J-STAGE.

The Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology (JSMEZ) traces its origins to the wartime period. In March 1943, the first 'Sanitary Insect Roundtable' (衛生昆虫談話会) was held at the Resources Science Research Institute with 40 participants, followed by a second meeting in April at the University of Tokyo Faculty of Agriculture. On 5 October 1943, the Japan Society of Sanitary Entomology (日本衛生昆虫学会) was founded at the University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine. Its first president was Mikinosuke Miyajima. Founding participants included prominent zoologists and parasitologists such as Tokio Kaburagi, Matsujiro Takeuchi, Harujiro Kobayashi, Seki Miyao, Masaji Kitano, Takeo Tamiya, and Mikinosuke Miyajima, as well as younger researchers who later became central figures, including Manabu Sasa, Shojiro Asahina, Yasushi Asanuma, Ken'ichi Nomura, and Seiichi Toshioka. Due to the worsening war situation, the society's activities were suspended from the end of the war until the postwar reconstruction period. In April 1949, the society held its first general meeting in Kyoto, with Harujiro Kobayashi as congress president. In 1950, the society changed its name to the Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology and launched its journal, Eisei Dōbutsu (衛生動物). In 1951, it joined the Japan Medical Association as its 37th branch society, marking the beginning of full-scale activities. In 1955, the society established the Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology Award. In 1970, following a proposal by a group of younger researchers, the old board of councilors system was abolished, and a democratic system was adopted in which members elect the directors by public vote. On 28 March 1990, the society established the Sasa Award, named after Manabu Sasa, as a young researcher incentive award. In 1995, the English title of the journal was changed starting with that year's issues. The society is organized into four regional branches: North Japan, East Japan, West Japan, and South Japan. As of 2020, the East Japan Branch office is located within the Technical Research Institute of Ikari Shodoku Co., Ltd. in Narashino, Chiba, and the branch president is Tsutomu Tanikawa. The current society president is Kyoko Sawabe, who took office in 2018; her specialty is insect medical science, and she is affiliated with the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Entomology (formerly a professor at Mie University).

• 2018

  Kyoko Sawabe took office as president.

• 1995

  Changed the English title of the journal starting with that year's issues.

• 1990

  Established the Sasa Award on 28 March.

• 1970

  Abolished the board of councilors system; adopted democratic election of directors by members.

• 1955

  Established the Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology Award.

• 1951

  Joined the Japan Medical Association as its 37th branch society.

• 1950

  Society renamed Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology; journal Eisei Dōbutsu launched.

• 1949

  First general meeting held in Kyoto in April, with Harujiro Kobayashi as congress president.

• 1943

  First Sanitary Insect Roundtable held in March; second in April; Japan Society of Sanitary Entomology founded on 5 October at University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine.

Academic society for medical entomology and zoology in Japan

• Medical Entomology and Zoology (journal)

  Quarterly academic journal, ISSN 0424-7086, first published in 1950. Former English title: Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology (before 1994). Available in print and on J-STAGE.

• JSMEZ Award

  Established in 1955; awarded to members for outstanding academic achievements aligned with the society's objectives. Candidates recommended by directors and elected by member vote, generally one award per year.

• Sasa Award

  Established on 28 March 1990; a young researcher incentive award named after Manabu Sasa, aimed at encouraging and recognizing young researchers in medical entomology and zoology.

1. 1Wikidata: Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoologywikidata.org
2. 2日本衛生動物学会 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org