喘息は、3〜15%の高い有病率を示す重要な疾患です。ガイドラインの進化にともない多くの喘息患者のquality of life（QOL）が改善してきましたが、まだ数多くの課題が残されています。すなわち、治療抵抗性の重症患者が10%程度残されていること、高齢者の閉塞性肺疾患の原因が複雑で、喘息、COPD、その他の気道・肺疾患の合併症が背景にあり診断と治療が困難であること、喘息に合併する好酸球性副鼻腔炎と中耳炎、血管炎およびアスピリン不耐症の治療の困難性、軽症喘息の掘り起こしとそのQOLの改善の必要性、喘息治療薬の吸入手技が十分に訓練されていないこと、等、が列挙できます。

　以上の課題を少しでも解決するために、本学会のテーマは、「喘息患者に満足していただけるための最新臨床医学と基礎医学」と致しました。重症喘息の病態と治療に関するシンポジウム、特別講演、会長講演、高齢者気流閉塞疾患の鑑別と治療、分子標的治療、薬剤師ならびに看護師も参加できる吸入手技指導シンポジウムとハンズオンセミナー、一般演題（口演、ポスター）を、海外からの演者を含めて企画しています。また、懇親会では高千穂の夜神楽を披露致します。

　Prevalence rates of asthma have risen to between 3 and 15%. Guidelines for asthma, e.g., Global Initiative for Asthma：Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, Japanese Guideline for Asthma（in Japanese）, and Japanese Guideline for Adults（in English）, have been helping us to improve the management and prevention of asthma. In spite of the progress, however, several issues remain：severe intractable asthma, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, and comorbidity in asthma, e.g. eosinophilic sinusitis, eosinophilic otitis media, EGPA（eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis）, and elderly asthma complicating with other obstructive pulmonary diseases including ACO（asthma COPD overlap）. In addition, poor inhaler technique leads to poor asthma control. Therefore, doctors, nurses and pharmacists need to instruct patients in how to correct poor inhaler technique.

　To address these issues, we proposed that the major theme of this Congress be "Clinical Medicine and Basic Research for Maximizing Quality of Life for Asthmatics". In the Congress, we will have the opportunity to listen to a series of valuable lectures by outstanding figures from abroad and Japan covering many topics and to participate in a hands-on seminar for inhaler technique.

　A series of big earthquakes struck Kumamoto on April 16, 2016 causing severe damage. Numerous structures collapsed. Kumamoto Castle, one of the finest castles in Japan, sustained extensive damage to its roof, buildings and famous stone walls. Now, restoration work has started. To encourage Kumamoto, I ask you to visit Kumamoto and participate in the Congress. I hope that you will enjoy Kumamoto, Mt. Aso, the Yamanami Highway on the way to Beppu, and Takachiho Valley. At the reception party in the evening on Oct. 5, you will enjoy Japanese sacred music and dance（Takachiho Kagura）which is old-fashoned, attractive and funny.