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An English journal published by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association
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J Orthop Sci (1996) 1:1
]ournalof
thopaedic Science TheJapaneseOrthopaedicAssociation
Opening articles
An English journal published by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association RYOKEI OOAWA, M.D.
The Journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association has been published since 1926 to improve and develop orthopaedic science in Japan. Most articles contributed to the journal were written in Japanese. Although the published theses and papers, whether in Japanese or English, were never poor in quality, for several years editorial board members have been discussing the future direction of the journal. The contents of papers were mainly related to basic research and were so specialized that the journal was not appropriate for the many members of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) who devoted themselves to daily clinical work. This monthly journal, sent unsolicited to all members, was not always given the reception the editors might have wished, and it became in some respects a less-than-attractive publication; many pages were filled with miscellaneous information and records of annual meetings rather than with original research work. The journal had little or no international readership because most of the basic research was reported in Japanese. Even when published in English, reports were not read by a wide audience throughout the world because the journal was perceived essentially as a Japanese publication. Under these circumstances, our mission has long been to change the nature of the journal so that it would be well received both by members and by nonmembers of the JOA. In 1993, at the 66th annual meeting, Congress President Prof. Keiro Ono led a symposium titled "The Role and Strategy of an Orthopaedic Journal." During the symposium, Prof. Hirohiko Azuma, then chairman of the JOA editorial board, suggested that the journal should be entirely in English or, alternatively, a separate English edition of the journal should be published to be more accessible to an international audience. The following year the board of directors approved publication of two separate journals by the JOA: a Japanese edition that would carry lecture notes, general information, minutes of committee proceedings, and abstracts of the annual meeting; and an English edition, issued
bimonthly, that would publish original work in the field. Contributors would not be asked to pay publishing costs. The English publication has now come to fruition as the Journal of Orthopaedic Science. For this new journal, the JOA solicits contributions from all sources in all parts of the world, welcoming reports of not only basic research but also important clinical research. Practical, educational information will be published in notes on special lectures delivered at meetings of scientists and researchers. In addition, a bulletin board section will make available information from international sources. We believe that a high-quality journal can make a significant contribution to the academic world, thus our objective in publishing the Journal of Orthopaedic Science is to present outstanding reports to orthopaedic researchers worldwide. We also hope that through the new journal, the high professional standards of the JOA will be evident. As noted earlier, until only a few years ago the scope of the JOA journal had been restricted primarily to members' interests, but now our aim is to publish an orthopaedic journal that will serve as a forum for readers and contributors throughout the world. By so doing, we believe that the JOA becomes a truly international society. We stand at the threshold of a new century, and I personally believe that the inauguration of the Journal of Orthopaedic Science is a commemorative task that we can proudly undertake this year, seventy years after the birth of the JOA. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the former President, Prof. Yasuo Yamauchi; the Editor-inChief, Prof. Koichiro Hayashi; the former Editor-inChief, Prof. Hirohiko Azuma; and the members of the editorial board, whose untiring efforts have made possible the publication of the Journal of Orthopaedic
Science. Ryokei Ogawa, M.D. President, Japanese Orthopaedic Association
J Orthop Sci (1996) 1:1
]ournalof
thopaedic Science TheJapaneseOrthopaedicAssociation
Opening articles
An English journal published by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association RYOKEI OOAWA, M.D.
The Journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association has been published since 1926 to improve and develop orthopaedic science in Japan. Most articles contributed to the journal were written in Japanese. Although the published theses and papers, whether in Japanese or English, were never poor in quality, for several years editorial board members have been discussing the future direction of the journal. The contents of papers were mainly related to basic research and were so specialized that the journal was not appropriate for the many members of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) who devoted themselves to daily clinical work. This monthly journal, sent unsolicited to all members, was not always given the reception the editors might have wished, and it became in some respects a less-than-attractive publication; many pages were filled with miscellaneous information and records of annual meetings rather than with original research work. The journal had little or no international readership because most of the basic research was reported in Japanese. Even when published in English, reports were not read by a wide audience throughout the world because the journal was perceived essentially as a Japanese publication. Under these circumstances, our mission has long been to change the nature of the journal so that it would be well received both by members and by nonmembers of the JOA. In 1993, at the 66th annual meeting, Congress President Prof. Keiro Ono led a symposium titled "The Role and Strategy of an Orthopaedic Journal." During the symposium, Prof. Hirohiko Azuma, then chairman of the JOA editorial board, suggested that the journal should be entirely in English or, alternatively, a separate English edition of the journal should be published to be more accessible to an international audience. The following year the board of directors approved publication of two separate journals by the JOA: a Japanese edition that would carry lecture notes, general information, minutes of committee proceedings, and abstracts of the annual meeting; and an English edition, issued
bimonthly, that would publish original work in the field. Contributors would not be asked to pay publishing costs. The English publication has now come to fruition as the Journal of Orthopaedic Science. For this new journal, the JOA solicits contributions from all sources in all parts of the world, welcoming reports of not only basic research but also important clinical research. Practical, educational information will be published in notes on special lectures delivered at meetings of scientists and researchers. In addition, a bulletin board section will make available information from international sources. We believe that a high-quality journal can make a significant contribution to the academic world, thus our objective in publishing the Journal of Orthopaedic Science is to present outstanding reports to orthopaedic researchers worldwide. We also hope that through the new journal, the high professional standards of the JOA will be evident. As noted earlier, until only a few years ago the scope of the JOA journal had been restricted primarily to members' interests, but now our aim is to publish an orthopaedic journal that will serve as a forum for readers and contributors throughout the world. By so doing, we believe that the JOA becomes a truly international society. We stand at the threshold of a new century, and I personally believe that the inauguration of the Journal of Orthopaedic Science is a commemorative task that we can proudly undertake this year, seventy years after the birth of the JOA. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the former President, Prof. Yasuo Yamauchi; the Editor-inChief, Prof. Koichiro Hayashi; the former Editor-inChief, Prof. Hirohiko Azuma; and the members of the editorial board, whose untiring efforts have made possible the publication of the Journal of Orthopaedic
Science. Ryokei Ogawa, M.D. President, Japanese Orthopaedic Association