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| The number of international conferences held in Japan
increased dramatically with the holding of the Olympic Games in Tokyo
in 1964. Fueled by this trend, professional congress organization became
an independent industry in Japan. Since that time, professional congress
organizers (PCOs) have played an important role in the smooth management
of international conferences in Japan by serving as specialists who
comprehensively organize, plan, and manage conventions and other gatherings,
and provide related services.
In 1986, the Japan Association of Professional Congress Organizers (JAPCO) was established by seven major PCOs. Through the cooperation of member corporations, JAPCO has aimed to make an important contribution to Japanese government, industry, academia, culture, and other fields by providing highly reliable and efficient conference-organizing services. Today, JAPCO is being enhanced further as our number of members increases, entities from associated industries become honorary and supporting members, and many corporations from related fields join as associate members. As internationalization and information technology have advanced in Japan in recent years, the environment surrounding the convention industry has changed markedly, as exemplified by policies for the Japanese public and private sector to work together to actively bid for international conventions with the enactment of the Convention Law. With these developments, the technologies and services required of PCOs have changed greatly. JAPCO members are selected based on a strict screening and share a common philosophy. We aim to develop the convention market in a sound fashion by freely competing and cooperating together to provide superior-quality services at reasonable prices under the JAPCO name. Members aim to exchange knowledge, experience, and technology and to improve the overall level of the industry through close cooperation. In this way, JAPCO aims to contribute to the development and promotion of the convention industry in Japan and in turn to promote the sound internationalization of the country and enhance international goodwill and cooperation. |
 Mr. Hiroshi Mizohata, Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency
(second from right) |
