Dear Friends, dear colleagues, all over the world
who are focusing “Animal Reproduction”

On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee, we sincerely welcome the 20th International Congress on Animal Reproduction in June 2026 in Obihiro, which is located in the middle of Hokkaido, Japan.

Surrounded by the beautiful coastline of East Asia, Japan is a charming country that is gentle, safe, delicious and beautiful for visitors, with a good blend of unique culture, art, cuisine and global factors. At the same time, we have created a modern society supported by cutting-edge world-class science and technology. Livestock production is also active, and Japanese beef production, which has gained international acclaim for its high-quality marbled meat Wagyu as well as dairy cows, is booming.

Obihiro City is the center of the Tokachi district in Hokkaido, which is located in the north of Japan, and is one of the largest food production bases in Japan, and is called "Food Valley". In particular, in addition to large-scale upland farming, dairy is the largest producer in Japan. Local cheese, wine and beer production are well known at home and abroad, and “Made in Hokkaido”, “Made in Tokachi”, is a brand along with agricultural products. Hokkaido is popular with domestic and foreign tourists and is a mecca for outdoor sports in the dynamic wilderness. There are plenty of seafood, agricultural products, meat, wine and beer, and numerous hot springs. ICAR participants will be assured for a very comfortable and relaxing stay after a heated discussion in the academic program.

Japanese animal reproduction researchers have long been involved in ICAR. In particular, many researchers are now involved in ICAR in a wide range of research and technological development in reproductive science, starting with professor Nishikawa, a pioneer of horse reproductive science and further developed with professor Iritani in in vitro fertilization. During this time, the Society of Reproduction and Development (SRD) has consistently been a driving force in Japanese animal reproduction. However, as you know, ICAR has never been held in Japan and also in Asia, and the time is now ripe. Obihiro City has the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, which has traditionally produced human resources for cattle reproduction, and many large livestock veterinarians, cattle producers, and researchers in these fields are still growing up. In 2014, the 9th International Ruminant Reproduction Symposium (IRRS) was held in Obihiro City, where many internationally leading researchers from 30 countries gathered and discussed. The upcoming 20th ICAR will be fully supported by Japan Society of Animal Science, The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science, Japan Society of Ova Research, Japan Embryo Technology Society, centered on the host society SRD, with the strong support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Tourism Agency of Japan, National Tourism Organization, Hokkaido Prefecture, Obihiro City, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH).

We will work with leading researchers around the world to prepare an inspiring time and offer a rich and hot scientific program in the beautiful, idyllic and relaxing environment of Obihiro, Hokkaido. At the timing of overcoming the global pandemic caused by that severe coronavirus disaster, we will have active discussions for the next stage and the next generation, so we will do our best to create a week where we can truly rejoice and meet each other.

We look forward to seeing you in Obihiro, Japan!