Dear my friends:

Wishing you a prosperous, bright and happy new year !

Last year, I continued to be a singer and dancer in several of the international meetings.

As you see in the attached file, I enjoyed in 2007 many scientific meetings such as the ISSX Sendai meeting and PSWC2007(Amsterdam) as well as being with my graduate students, staff, secretaries and all the members in my lab. As you find in the attached card, I also enjoyed the four seasons in Japan which is of roughly equal length. The pictures of Cherry blossoms and Red leaves (Koyo) were taken by me in the campus of my University (The Univ of Tokyo).

Let me explain how we Japanese enjoy the change in seasons.

The “Haru-ichiban”, the first warm wind of spring, usually blows around the end of February. About this time, the plum blossoms come into bloom and stay on the trees for several weeks. If a late snow happens to fall, we can see the touching “Kanbai” (cold plum blossoms with snow on them).

The next thing everyone waits for is the blooming of the cherry blossoms. The television weather reporters keep us informed, showing on their weather the northward advance of the “Sakura zensen” or “Cherry blossom blooming front”, a naming that likens the coming of the cherry blossoms to the advance of a weather front. This is done because knowing when the cherry blossoms will bloom(usually in the last few days of March in Tokyo) is vital information in Japan. Almost every company and university have to have its annual hanami (Cherry blossom viewing ) party under the blossoms at the local famous spot. Of course the purpose is rarely just to view the blossoms. The hanami is a chance to drink, sing, dance and generally make a drunken fool of yourself (all of which will be politely forgiven and forgotten the next day).

The next thing the weather reporter is waiting to inform us of is “tsuyu-iri”, the official start of the rainy season (drizzling for about a month from mid-June to mid-July). We hate this season.

In September, summer gives way to the typhoon season. But the strong winds and driven rain are actually a relief after the stifling summer heat for many people, except those hardest hit by the storm on the coasts. As the typhoon season ends in October, the high skies of early autumn and the still mild temperatures bring the second most enjoyed season in Japan, after the cherry blossom season.

Next the weather reporters inform us of the “koyo-zensen” (the autumn leaf turning front). The Japanese love the somewhat subdued autumn leaves of the Japanese maple and the ginkgo trees (symbol of my University) that reach their peak around the end of November. This is about the time that the weather reporter informs us of “kogarashi-ichiban”, the first snow of winter.

This carefully watched changing of the seasons is an integral part of Japanese culture and the arts. Haiku was able to evolve as the shortest poetry form in the world partly because every 17-syllable poem has one kigo, or“season word”, that gives the poem a seasonal setting and context with just one word. From this season word the Japanese reader can sense the heat or coolness of the season, smell the seasonal scents on the breezes and generally savor the flavor of the time of year and situation the season word invokes.

In winter, there is even a “yuki-mi,” a snow viewing. This is not a party occasion like the hanami, but a quiet aesthetic represented by the yuki-mi shoji, which is a shoji (sliding wall-door panel) with a glass section in its lower part at the right level to see the snow in the garden when sitting on the floor of a tatami room. (Reference; Finding Japan by Robert Reed (2005))

-------------------------------------------------
2007 is the year of the Rat (please see the attached cartoon). As I described last year, Eto ( juunishi ), the ancient Chinese system of the calendar was created by combining ordered set of symbols called junishi ( "12 branches" ). The junishi set consists of animals ( Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon,Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar, in that order ). This system continues to be used in Japan today to express the year. Daily conversation often includes comments about the animal of the year in which one was born. The year when one was born is believed to be associated with personality as shown below.

THE RAT PERSONALITY
People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.

I wish the New Year bring only good things to you !

with best regards,
Yuichi

Dear my friends :

Wishing you a prosperous, bright and happy new year !

Last year, I made a debut as a singer in several of the international meetings (see the attached pictures).

2007 is the year of the Boar (please see the attached cartoon). I am a person of the Year, meaning that I was born in the year of Boar. Eto ( juunishi ), the ancient Chinese system of the calendar, based on cycles of sixty years, was introduced to Japan in the sixth century. The calendar was created by combining ordered set of symbols called junishi ( "12 branches" ). The junishi set consists of animals ( Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon,Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar, in that order ). This system continues to be used in Japan today to express the year. Daily conversation often includes comments about the animal of the year in which one was born. The year when one was born is believed to be associated with personality as shown below.

THE BOAR PERSONALITY
This is the sign of honesty, simplicity and great fortitude. Gallant, sturdy and courageous, a person born in this year will apply himself to an allotted task with all his strength and you can rely on him to see it through. We have a proverb saying “Chototsu-moshin” meaning rushing forward recklessly like a Boar.

In addition, we have Japanese blood type theory of personality. I have the blood type B. It is popularly believed in Japan that a person's ABO blood type is predictive of their personality, character, and compatibility with others, similar to the Western world's Astrology. In Japan, asking someone their blood type is considered as normal as asking their astrological sign in other countries. According to this “theory”, the person with blood type B has the following personality.
Best Traits; Creative, passionate, optimistic, flexible and individualistic.
Worst Traits; Forgetful, irresponsible, and self-centered.

In conclusion, the prediction based upon the Chinese calendar and blood type, indicate that this year I will rush forward in a sturdy, courageous, optimistic and self-centered fashion. Many people around me are very much afraid of my reckless actions. I will keep that in mind and try to calm myself.

I wish the New Year bring only good things to you !

with best regards,
Yuichi

皆さんへ；

明けましておめでとうございます。

昨年は、僕自身のたてた目標は、ダイエットとゴルフスコアーを除けば、８０％は達成できたかと思っています。

昨年は、添付の写真にあるように、世界の多くの学会にて、singer としてデビューした年となりました。久しぶりに年末にサンタクロースにもなり、教室員を驚かせたつもりでしたが、どうも行動を読まれていたようです。

今年の私の目標も、昨年同様に、自分のための時間をもっと多く作ることです。

１）体重を今より６ｋｇ減らすこと（すでにダイエット食品を大晦日に通販で注文済み）
２）50肩の克服とゴルフの再開
３）学生さん、研究生の方々と議論する時間を増やす
４）トランスポーターの関与する臨床研究を軌道に乗せる（probe substrate, inhibitorの実証、PET probeの実証）
５）Systems Biologyの研究展開に目途をつける
６）大きな英文レビューを自ら仕上げる
７）薬物相互作用シミュレーターを市場に出す

勿論、MDの我が国での実施を実現化することも忘れておりません。

以上、１年を経たときに、８０点以上の点数をつけられるように努力しますので、今年もどうか宜しくお願いします。

皆様のご多幸をお祈りします。

杉山雄一

Dear my friends and colleagues:

One of my best friends just called me saying that I should have shown my skill of taking artistic photos rather than showing my strange Hula dance.

I may have to agree with this advice and will send you some more pictures.

Attached you may find some pictures taken last year.

Hope you like them better than my Hula.

Wishing you a Happy New Year !

with best regards,

Yuichi

明けましておめでとうございます。

昨年は大晦日、厳寒の北京にいたのですが、今年は武蔵野の家にて過ごしております。１月５日から、ISSXの会長引継ぎ会議がワシントンDCであり、そのための準備にほぼ正月休みを費やすことになりそうです。

昨年にたてた目標を,今年の追加目標と一緒に、達成度(自己満足度）とともに示します。

今年（昨年）の私の目標も、自分のための時間をもっと多く作ることです。

１） 新しい研究分野の勉強に時間をとりたい（３０％達成度）
２） トランスポーターの関与するPersonalzied medicineの研究を軌道に乗せる（６０％達成度）
３） 学生さん、研究生の方々と議論する時間を増やす　（５０％達成度）
４） 英語での長時間の会議のchairをするのに集中力が８０％程度でもかなりの程度に理解できるようにヒアリングのブラッシュアップと、ボキャブラリーの増加（３０％達成度）
５） 体重を今より８ｋｇ減らすこと　（０％達成度）
６） 体力をアップするためにトレーニングとゴルフスコアの年間平均を１００にすること。鎌滝先生に３回に１回は勝つこと（０％達成度）
７）　ラップ（オレンジレンジ、ケツメイシ）をある程度歌えるようにすること（６０％　達成度）
８）医薬品評価科学講座のセミナー、講義などを軌道に乗せること（１００％到達；　清水さん、獅山さん、岡嶋さん；　どうも有難う）
８）　ISSX,JSSX　会長としての仕事を軌道に乗せること　（今年よりスタート）
９）　文科省、経産省などのプロジェクトの、プログラムオフィサー、ディレクターの役割を軌道に乗せること

以上、１年を経たときに、８０点以上の点数をつけられるように努力しますので、今年もどうか宜しくお願いします。（全体としての達成度は、４０％でしょうか？）　

昨年は、Dr.Nicholas Bodor, 永井先生らと一緒にco-chairを務めて、箱根でのRetrometabolism conferenceを何とか無事に成功のうちに終わることができて、満足しております（添付の写真は、その懇親会で学生さんらとオレンジレンジの花を歌っているところです）。また、鎌滝委員長のもと、大塚事務局長、辻会長、池田さん（三共）、その他、組織委員の皆さんの一致団結のもと、JSSX-ISSX Hawaiiの会を大成功に終えることができました。私は、president electとして、種々の懇親会で活躍させてもらいました（フラを踊っている写真を見て下さい）。

また、秋には生体膜薬物相互作用シンポ（乾　先生が委員長）で、トランスポーター領域の著名が外国人が３名来日し、彼らとの密なscientific discussionに加えて京都の秋を楽しみことができました（残念ながら、とてもきれいだったライトアップされた夜の紅葉はカメラの性能の限度のために、うまく撮れてなかったので、昼間に撮った写真を示します。この写真も結構気にいっています）

2006年からのISSX, JSSX presidentの仕事に精一杯の努力をしたいと思います。また、兼任の医薬品評価科学の講座もセミナー活動に加えて、研究を始動する必要があり、この領域の研究の手本となるような仕事にしたいと思っています。来年の韓国でのISSX meetingも是非とも成功させる必要なconferenceです。

東大内、外の仕事も増えてきそうです。でも、研究活動も落とすことなく、できるだけの時間をとって学生、スタッフとの議論していきたいと思います。あまり思い悩んでも仕方ないので、今日、できることにベストを尽くし、明日は明日の風が吹く（Tomorrow is another day)という心境で、できるだけ自然体で（It flows naturally), 楽しみながら仕事に取り組んでいくともりです。

どうか、皆さん、ご協力のほど宜しく御願いします。

私の２つの講座の活動、どうか、websiteでごらん下さいますよう御願いします。

http://www.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~sugiyama/index.html

http://www.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~regsci/index.htm

皆様のご多幸をお祈りします。

杉山雄一

Dear my friends::

Wishing you a prosperous, bright and happy new year !

I am spending this New Year in Beijing.

I will be back to Tokyo on Jan 3.

I was relieved so much after completing the PSWC 2004 which was held in Kyoto last year. Please see the attached picture. In the welcome reception, I danced a Japanese folk dance called "Awa-dance". I have learned lots after having so many experiences as the chair of this world conference.

Sending New Year's cards can be regarded as being similar to the custom of sending Christmas cards in the West, but with no religious significance in Japan. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications incites enthusiasm for sending these cards by printing a lottery number on each card. This may perhaps be a phenomenon reflecting the penchant of the Japanese quick to pick up on group oriented activities. The New Year's cards postal systems was set up muc earlier and cards with lottery numbers came into being in 1948.

The custom of paying courtesy calls at New Year to one's lord, parents, relatives, acquaintances, teachers, people in the neighborhood (recently going to disappear), one’s superiors, etc, began during the Heian Period (8-12 th century)). The total number of New Year’s cards delivered on New Year’s Day throughout Japan reached an astonishing 3 billion. I myself send every year almost 1000 new years cards and receive the similar number of cards. The designs of the different zodiacs every year are truly diverse and original utilizing wood block prints and other artistic devices. 2005 is the year of the Cock (please see the attached cartoon). These are indeed a pleasure to see. There are many different word processors and computer software that contain images and photos that can be utilized to create a personalized card. New Year’s cards have also come to fulfill a great role in Society; a part of the proceeds is used for welfare work in Japan.

I wish the New Yearf bring only good things to you !

with best regards,
Yuichi Sugiyama
Univ of Tokyo

皆さん；

明けましておめでとうございます。

昨年にたてた目標を達成度とともに示します。

今年（昨年）の私の目標は、自分のための時間をもっと多く作ることです。
１） 新しい研究分野の勉強に時間をとりたい（５０％達成度）
２） トランスポーターの関与するPersonalzied medicineの研究を軌道に乗せる（８０％達成度）
３） 学生さん、研究生の方々と議論する時間を増やす　（３０％達成度）
４） 英語での長時間の会議のchairをするのに集中力が８０％程度でもかなりの程度に理解できるようにヒアリングのブラッシュアップと、ボキャブラリーの増加（５０％達成度）
５） 体重を今より８ｋｇ減らすこと　（０％達成度）
６） 体力をアップするためにトレーニングとゴルフスコアの年間平均を１００にすること。鎌滝先生に３回に１回は勝つこと　（０％達成度）

以上、１年を経たときに、８０点以上の点数をつけられるように努力しますので、今年もどうか宜しくお願いします。（全体としての達成度は、３０％でしょうか？）　来年も同じ目標ですが、特に　３）、５）、６）に力を入れます。

昨年は、ＰＳＷＣ２００４を何とか成功させることができてほっとしています（添付の写真の阿波踊り）。今年はJSSX-ISSX Hawaiiの成功とRetrometabolism conferenceの成功を目指します。また、2006年からのISSX presidentのために、土台作りをすることが必要と思っています。東大内での仕事も増えてきそうです。心配していても仕方ないので、やれるだけのことをやって、あとは運を天に任します（僕の好きなことば、It flows naturally　です）

皆様のご多幸をお祈りします。

杉山雄一

The 4th International Symposium on
MEASUREMENT AND KINETICS OF IN VIVO DRUG EFFECTS was held on 24-27 April 2002, Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. It was an exciting meeting.

These are the pictures of conference center and the tulip fields just in front of the conference center. Yuichi Sugiyama enjoyed this meeting scientifically and also enjoyed many of the friends in this field.

24-27 April 2002, Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands 4th International Symposium on MEASUREMENT AND KINETICS OF IN VIVO DRUG EFFECTS
As with the previous symposia in 1990,1994 and 1998 the purpose of this conference is to discuss the latest developments in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modelling and its applications in drug development, regulatory decision making and clinical practice

Topics:
This year's conference will feature plenary sessions on
・Theoretical Concepts
・ Practical Implementation
・Therapeutic Examples
・ Utility in Decision Making
Furthermore:
・Demonstrations of Computer Software
・A poster session covering all aspects of PK/PD modelling and its applications

March 23, 2002
Hi ! My friends
Season's Greetings !

It is unusually warm this year, and cherry blossoms are already at their best.
Pictures attached have been taken today in the campus of Tokyo University.
You may enjoy the cherry blossoms in our campus.
The two guys beside me are, Dr. Hiroshi Suzuki (Associate Professor; left) and Hiroyuki Kusuhara (Assistant Professor; right). From this year on, Kazuya Maeda(in another picture), who is the best singer in my lab will join us as a new research associate.
Please come and visit my lab. You can enjoy our very nice performance with his beautiful songs accompanied by my inharmonious guitar..
Many Japanese people feel something when cherry blossoms are falling rather than seeing them at their best. This sort of mind was expressed very well by a Nobel Prize writer, Yasunari Kawabatam but I do not know how to express that mind in English.
For one week, we can enjoy their beauty and even after their height of magnificence, we can appreciate their beauty as they shed their petals and remind us of the ups and downs of life. ( mind of "Wabi-Sabi").
In Japan, the school year starts in April, and very soon some of my students will be away from me. I miss them. In my lab, we did a farewell party several days ago.

With best regards,
Yuichi Sugiyama
University of Tokyo

Dear my friends:

May the New Year turn out to bxe the happiest and the best to you !
On Dec.28 and 29, I went to a Hot Spring area (Izu Peninsula, near Mt. Fuji) to make myself relaxed.
We had lots of delicious and fresh sea foods, lost in meditation in the outside hot spring looking at beautiful scenery, and I am dreaming of some new research projects. Attached you may find some pictures in the hot spring area.
Now in Japan, holiday season starts (from Dec.29 to Jan.6) and I will be energized after the vacation.
Today on Dec.31 (at the very end of the year), the bell is struck 108 times at "Joya no kane" in many temples of Japan. It is generally said that there are 108 earthly passions, and that the bells at Buddhist temples are rung beginning at mid-night on New Year' Eve with hope of dispelling these passions. The number 108 was considered significant in India, such that sacred words were chanted 108 times, and there were held to be 108 teachings and 108 passions.
When Buddhism was introduced to China from India, the bells at temples were struck 108 times both morning and evening. Now in Japan this is a year-end and year-beginning custom. It became established as a custom to cast aside the desires and attachments that has stuck to oneself during the year and to greet the new year with a feeling of purity.

Yuichi Sugiyama, Ph.D.

Dear my friends:

Season's Greetings !

I now can feel the touch of autumn in the campus of Univ. of Tokyo.

I took these pictures in the campus (near Sanshiro-pond area) today (day time) and yesterday (evening time) with my favorite digital camera (you know it !).
I want to share with you these beautiful and tasteful scenery.

Yuichi Sugiyama
Univ of Tokyo

Dear My friends:

Seasons Greetings from Switzerland.

I have been and will be staying in Interlaken, Grindelwald and Basel to attend the transporter meeting organized by Dr.Hediger and to visit some institutes. I am now relaxing myself around Grindelwald today on Sunday.
I am very happy to have escaped from very hot and humid Tokyo. The weather and climate of Swiss is more than perfect.
Attached you may find pictures from Switzerland taken with my favorite digital camera.
In the first picture, I am trying to play (make sound) with big Swiss horn in the banquet of the scientific meeting, and at last found I have no music talent al all. I could handle the coin very well. You may also enjoy the beauty of Swiss in other pictures.
Have a nice summer holiday, and relax yourself.
Seeing you before long either in Japan, Singapore, Munich or Denvor.

With best regards,
Yuichi Sugiyama
Univ. of Tokyo