Greeting Messege
Kyoichi Takaori, MD, PhD, FASGOFacilitator,
HPB Winter Meeting in Hokkaido 2026Secretary General, IASGOPresident and C.E.O.,
Nagahama City Hospital Enterprise
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
On behalf of Professor Satoshi Hirano and his team at Hokkaido University, I am delighted to welcome you to the HPB Winter Meeting in Hokkaido 2026, taking place from February 28th to March 2nd in Niseko.
This year, we are proud to hold this meeting in conjunction with the International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, and Oncologists (IASGO) CME Advanced Postgraduate Course at Hokkaido University Hospital, under the leadership of Professor Hirano. These landmark events will bring together international speakers from around the world, resulting in a high-level program that includes both international experts and promising young fellows.
This Winter Meeting in Niseko is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the latest medical and scientific advancements in the treatments of hepatic, pancreatic and biliary diseases, and also to enjoy a wonderful reunion with old and new friends in a fantastic location.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the great support from the entire team at Hokkaido University. I particularly want to emphasize that the selfless service of Professor Takehiro Noji has been instrumental in making this meeting possible.
We look forward to seeing you all in beautiful Niseko, renowned for its world-class powder snow!
Sincerely,
Satoshi Hirano, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, Professor and Chairman,
Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II,
Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine
Dear colleagues and friends
Following on from last year, we are pleased to announce that the 4th HPB Winter Meeting 2026 in Hokkaido will be held at the Hilton Niseko Village in Niseko Town, Hokkaido, from Friday, February 27th to Monday, March 2nd, 2026.
Inspired by the long-running ALPS meeting, which brings together European hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeons in an Italian mountain resort, this meeting will be led by staff from the Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery II and Professor Marco del Chiaro of the University of Colorado, USA, and will aim to foster international discussions, primarily in the field of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, while also providing participants to create an active network .
While there are a variety of issues to address at this symposium, we have narrowed it down to a small number to enable meaningful discussion within the limited time, with the ultimate goal of developing these into international collaborative research.
Numerous natural hot springs are located within a 10-minute drive from the venue, allowing visitors to enjoy day trips and soak in a snow-viewing bath. We believe this will be a rare opportunity to fully enjoy the bounty of nature while engaging in passionate discussions. Since the event will be held at a resort hotel, we ask that you dress as casually as possible.
We hope you will invite your family, friends, and colleagues to come and enjoy a wonderful time at Niseko Resort.
August 2025