The 10th PRWAC was successfully held on September 10th–14th, 2024 in Asahikawa, Japan, sponsored by the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, the Japan Wood Society, IUFRO-J, the Asahikawa Tourism and Convention Association, and the Hokkaido Prefectural Government. More than 100 participants from eleven countries actively discussed various topics related to wood anatomy over that time.

The conference started with a keynote lecture from Dr. Yafang Yin, providing the history of wood anatomical studies in China over the past decades since 1920s and introducing the latest issues in the field worldwide. In the oral and poster presentation sessions, a total of 86 presenters shared their interesting findings. Three special sessions on recent hot topics in wood science, namely the application of machine learning to wood science, organized by Dr. Junji Sugiyama, using isotope labelling techniques to clarify elemental processes in wood formation, organized by Dr. Akira Kagawa, and cambium activities under climate change, organized by Dr. Md Hasnat Rahman, encouraged lively discussions.



The organizing committee awarded prizes to four especially excellent presentations given by students. The Best Oral Presentation Prizes were given to Gugu Gama et al. (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) for “Wood formation of drought-resistant Eucalyptus cladocalyx under cyclic drought treatments” and Masato Koyama et al. (Hokkaido University, Japan) for “The chemical constitutive defense mechanisms of inner barks of Sorbus commixta against Trametes versicolor”. The Best Poster Presentation Prizes were given to Kazuma Ishibashi et al. (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan) for “Anatomical and histochemical studies on axial secretory canals in the secondary phloem of Japanese Araliaceae trees” and Shunsuke Sakai et al. (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan) for “Optimization of “colorless woods” preparation methods and evaluation of their compressive properties”.


On the evening of September 11th, the IAWA Social Hour was held and Dr. Yafang Yin talked about the current state of the association. Three members Dr. Futoshi Ishiguri, Dr. Jong Sik Kim, and Dr. Satoshi Nakaba of IAWA Council (2024-2026) gave short speeches on how they would like to contribute to the association. The next PRWAC (2028) was also discussed and Vietnam was agreed upon as the next host country. In addition, a moment of silence was observed in memory of the late Dr. Pieter Baas.

Participants who joined the excursion on September 13th toured the natural landscape out of Asahikawa, including Bogakudai highland which offers a nice view of nearby forests and mountains. They also visited a prefectural research institute (Forest Products Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization) and a furniture factory (CondeHouse Co., Ltd.) to learn about the wood industry in Asahikawa, Hokkaido.


Finally, we are pleased to announce that Honorary IAWA Membership was bestowed on Prof. Dr. Yoon Soo Kim and Dr. Tomoyuki Fujii during the conference. They were presented with special certificates during the conference dinner on September 13th. They both gave delightful speeches and all the participants congratulated them.