July 30 to August 1, 2009, the ASCP BOC (formerly Board of Registry) Japanese Advisory Board held the ASCPⁱ kick off announcement at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Association of Medical Technologists (JAMT) at Pacifico Yokohama, Yokohama in conjunction with the 3rd Congress of the Asia Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (AAMLS). Founder Japanese Advisory Board member Hideo Sakamoto, PhD, Professor at Kobe Tokiwa University staffed an ASCPⁱ booth next to the registration corner. Other Advisory Board members, Kiichi Itho MD., PhD, President of the College of Laboratory Medicine of Japan (CLMJ) and Kunihiro Mimura, PhD, President of the Japanese Association of Medical Technology Education (JAMTE) introduced ASCPⁱ to attendees.

The total number of Medical Technologist national license holders in Japan is about 165,000. The Annual Scientific Meeting of JAMT is the largest meeting in the field of Medical Technology in Japan and more than four thousand attendees enjoyed this year’s event. Three plenary lectures, four educational lectures, eight symposiums, one panel discussion, two educational conferences and four special forums were held. In addition, 526 topics which included chemistry, hematology, microbiology, virology, ultrasound, phlebotomy, POCT, education system, blood banking, laboratory information, laboratory automation and public health were presented. More than three hundred people visited the ASCPⁱ booth. Honorary, JAMT President Mr. Shigeaki Ozaki, several JAMT Board of Directors and JAMT annual meeting President, Mr. Tomoaki Yonesaka visited to ASCPⁱ booth individually.

Visitors at this meeting are not only Japanese MTs but also Asian MTs who attended the AAMLS congress such as Philippine Advisory Board Members Agnes B. Medenilla, Leila M. Florento and Luella A. Vertucio. During that time, four different Japanese Medical Technology Journal editors and one medical newspaper reporter interviewed the Japanese Advisory Board members about ASCPⁱ.