Report from the 32nd Annual JARFN Conference (2025)

The 32nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Research on Family Nursing was held from September 20 to 21, 2025, at the Sapporo Education and Culture Hall. This was the first time the meeting had been held in Hokkaido, and under the theme “Family Nursing as Enmusubi (Connecting Ties),” we welcomed 788 participants. On behalf of the Program and Organizing Committee, I would like to express my sincere gratitude.

The program featured a Special Lecture by Professor Chiaki Shirai (Shizuoka University) titled “Tracing the Present of Childbirth and Child-rearing.” It also included two Educational Lectures—“Connecting ‘Ties’ with Patients, Families, and Society” by Professor Sumiko Oshima (Hokusei Gakuen University) and “Family Law Reform: Is Joint Custody After Divorce a Blessing for Children?” by Mr. Shinya Uchida (Hokkaido Joint Law Office)—as well as three symposia: “Supporting Business Caregivers,” “Dialogue That Listens to Children’s Voices,” and “Supporting Child-rearing Families as a Community,” the last of which was co-hosted with the Japanese Association for Medical and Psychological Study of Infants. In addition, a Public Lecture for Citizens titled “Supporting Children with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families” was offered.

Furthermore, six committee-organized sessions, 25 exchange meetings, a patient association seminar, general presentations (40 oral and 55 poster), and three on-demand lectures were held, all of which generated lively discussions across every venue. True to the theme of “Enmusubi,” this academic meeting became a place where people and knowledge were meaningfully connected.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the participants, everyone involved in the preparation and operation of the meeting, and the JARFN board members and councilors.

The 33rd Annual Meeting will be held on August 29–30, 2026, and hosted by Professor Hiroko Uryu of the Faculty of Nursing, Kochi Prefectural University.

Miki Konno, DSN, RN
Conference President, 32nd Annual JARFN Conference
Professor, Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University