Institute of Food Technologists Japan Section

　The IFT Japan Section was established in September 1957 as the 30th chapter of the Institute of Food Technologists (with approximately 25,000 members), headquartered in Chicago, USA. While the IFT currently has 54 sections, there are only three overseas chapters—in Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom—making the Japan Section a central chapter for the IFT in Asia. The Japan Section’s membership consists of representatives from leading Japanese food companies, foreign-affiliated food companies, universities, and public research institutions, comprising approximately 100 individual members and 32 corporate supporting members.

　At the time of its founding, the Japan Section had only about 20 to 30 members, but it has continued to evolve to this day as a forum for the exchange of information among members—a principle that has been its motto since its inception.

　Consequently, the Japan Section continues to serve as a forum for information exchange among food professionals, featuring a salon-like atmosphere distinct from that of a typical academic society. Of course, the core of its activities includes acting as a bridge between IFT headquarters and Japan Section members, assisting with subscriptions to *Food Technology* and the *Journal of Food Science* published by IFT, and hosting lectures two to three times a year featuring leading Japanese researchers. These journals feature the latest trends in the U.S. food industry with an eye toward the future, as well as world-class food research, and the lectures are highly regarded by our members as a source of the latest information in the food sector. Additionally, the Japan Section organizes tours to the annual conference held by the headquarters.

　The IFT Japan Section maintains close communication with the U.S. headquarters and is committed to continuing its active efforts as a source of information in Japan for the increasingly globalized food industry. We look forward to your continued support.

　Therefore, if you are a non-member viewing this website and are interested in IFT and the Japan Section, we encourage you to take this opportunity to consider joining.