2025-26 President Naohiro GOTOH

Welcoming Researchers Worldwide: A New Era of Open Collaboration and Global Access at JOCS

Building upon our 75-year history and our continuous contributions to international standardization—including our leadership in ISO/TC 91—JOCS is taking a major step forward to become a truly open, collaborative hub for the international oleo science community. Science knows no borders, and our academic community is dedicated to fostering global cooperation on an equal and universal footing.

To ensure that researchers, engineers, and students from all over the world can engage with our society without regional barriers, JOCS officially updated its Articles of Incorporation in April 2026.

In this strategic update, we have completely eliminated all regional limitations on our international membership categories. The former region-specific categories have been unified into “Overseas Members” and “Overseas Student Members,” opening our doors wide to professionals globally.

Tangible Benefits and Public-Interest Support for Our Global Community:
By joining JOCS as Overseas Members, researchers worldwide can now enjoy full access to our academic platforms with direct, practical value:

• Public-Interest Researcher Support for Open Access: Unlike commercial publishers that impose exorbitant Article Processing Charges (APC), JOCS operates as a public-interest academic society. Supported by membership dues and society activities, we offer AI-readable, fully open-access publishing in our peer-reviewed journal Journal of Oleo Science (JOS) at a conscientious, non-commercial cost—designed to genuinely support researchers rather than burden them.
• Preferential Congress Rates: Enjoy preferential registration fees for major international events, including the upcoming World Congress on Oleo Science (WCOS).

We warmly invite oleo science professionals from every corner of the globe to join our vibrant community, share your research, and collaborate with us in advancing the science and technology of our field for the benefit of all.

April 2026

New Year’s Greeting from the President, 2026: Leading Global Oleo Science through JOS and WCOS

Happy New Year. I hope all our members, international authors, readers, and global partners welcomed the new year in good health and spirit.

At the very core of the Japan Oil Chemists’ Society (JOCS) lies our unwavering commitment to global academic excellence. Our primary mission—the ultimate citadel of our society—is the international dissemination of cutting-edge research through our official journal, the Journal of Oleo Science (JOS), alongside our flagship international congress, the World Congress on Oleo Science (WCOS).

1. JOS: The Citadel of Global Research Dissemination

Guided by our distinguished global editorial board and supported by contributors worldwide, our international journal, Journal of Oleo Science (JOS), stands at the absolute heart of our academic activities. Its impact factor reached 1.8 in 2025[cite: 1], and we are aiming for 3.0. By advancing into a full JATS XML publishing format and expanding our open-access reach, JOS ensures that high-value scientific outputs are freely and barrier-free accessible to researchers globally. JOS is not merely a publication; it is the core engine where global knowledge in oils, fats, surfactants, and interfacial science is created, peer-reviewed, and shared with the world. I strongly invite all researchers worldwide to submit your pioneering work to JOS and cite its papers to further elevate our collective academic standing.

2. WCOS 2027: Uniting the World’s Leading Minds in Hakodate

Building upon this global academic foundation, JOCS proudly organizes premier international congresses. Next year, the World Congress on Oleo Science (WCOS 2027) will be held in Hakodate, hosted by Professor Masashi Hosokawa of Hokkaido University. WCOS serves as the ultimate global forum where top-tier researchers and engineers from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and beyond gather to discuss the future of oleo science, forge cross-border collaborations, and harmonize international standards.

3. Expanding Domestic Foundations and Industry–Academia–Government Collaboration

While driving these global pillars, JOCS also values its robust domestic and collaborative foundations. Last year, the 63rd Annual Meeting was successfully held at Shinshu University under the leadership of Professor Toshiro Sakai, and this year’s meeting will be hosted by Professor Satoshi Ueno at Hiroshima University. Our society thrives on the open exchange between academia and industry—from basic to applied research.

Furthermore, we are actively working on standardizing oil and fat analysis methods, registering them with international bodies such as ISO, and improving research environments and educational activities, such as revising the Freshman Seminar textbook to nurture the next generation.

In 2026, together with all our members, international researchers, and industrial partners, we will continue to advance JOCS as a vital global hub that connects rigorous science with the challenges of the future. I sincerely ask for your continued support and cooperation, and I extend my best wishes to you for the new year.

Jan 2026

Greeting as the Newly Appointed President

I am Naohiro Gotoh and have been appointed as the President of the Japan Oil Chemists’ Society (JOCS) for the years 2025 and 2026 at the 71st General Meeting. It is a great honor to take on this important role, following President Okano, in a society with such a rich history and tradition. At the same time, I deeply feel the weight of this responsibility. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all the past leaders who have dedicated their efforts to supporting this society.

JOCS has long served as an open, international platform where researchers and engineers in the fields of oils, fats, surfactants, and related areas can exchange knowledge and create new values. It has contributed to the development of both global academia and industry. While carrying on this tradition and foundation, during my term, I will make it my top priority to address the issues that became evident through my work with former President Okano and will work to promote our activities accordingly.

First, I aim to reorganize and update oil chemistry data from the year 2000 onward and make these findings widely available through the JOCS website or in printed publications, sharing recent advancements with our international members and the global scientific community.

Second, I will work on enhancing the standard methods for oil and fat analysis. Additionally, we will strive to register these methods with ISO to increase their international recognition and standardization. Fats and oils analysis is an essential foundation for both industry and academic research worldwide. Improving its accuracy and practicality, as well as ensuring that our standard analysis methods gain international recognition, will directly contribute to enhancing JOCS’s credibility on the international stage.

Third, I am committed to fostering the next generation of researchers and engineers. To further improve the Freshman Seminar, we will revise the dedicated textbook to help beginners to acquire knowledge more effectively. Additionally, I would like to establish a system where young oil chemists receive multi-year research funding rather than just one-year grants, enabling them to develop unique and innovative research ideas. By creating an environment that supports the activities of enthusiastic young researchers, I hope to contribute to the sustainable growth of the oil chemistry field globally.

Finally, I aim to increase the impact factor (IF) of our international journal, Journal of Oleo Science (JOS), to at least 2.0. To establish JOS as a globally recognized journal representing the oil chemistry field, we must raise this point to 2.0 or even 3.0. Through open-access publishing, JATS XML deployment, and the wisdom and cooperation of our global researchers and editorial committee members, I am confident we can achieve this goal.

To realize these initiatives, the understanding and support of our members, as well as many individuals from both industry and academia worldwide, are essential. Under the vision of JOCS as “a hub where scientists and engineers pioneer oleo science and support comfortable living”, I will promote flexible and organic international collaboration while striving for the further development of our society.

I sincerely ask for your continued support and look forward to working together to build the future of JOCS. Thank you.

May 2025