On behalf of professionals working with infants and families in Japan, I wish to welcome you to the 11th World Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health to be held in my home city of Yokohama in August 1-5,2008.

This is the first world congress of the WAIMH ever to be held in Asia. Despite the distance to travel, a world congress in Asia will expand your horizon. While in Asia, infants and families suffer from many obvious and hidden repression, deprivation and natural disasters, it is also an area where the spirit of interdependence and peaceful coexistence still prevails.We have a lot to learn from the warmth and resilience of families struggling in their predicaments.

Year 2008 is the eve of the 150th Anniversary of the Port of Yokohama. Now Japan is in an era with numerous achievements and challenges: on one hand we have achieved the world's lowest infant mortality rate, but on the other hand, our birth rate continues to decrease and postnatal depression and infant abuse increase. Also, current ongoing increase in diverse emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents alerts us even more to the importance of psychological well-being during infancy. The Japanese government is vigorously promoting a supportive nurturing environment for the next generation. Our theme for this congress is "Celebrating the baby : Baby in Family and Culture, " Akachan ni Kanpai ! "

Over the past ten years, we have created an open forum for professionals working with infants throughout Japan. Now the time is ripe for us to meet our colleagues from all over the world. I wish this congress will be a joyful meeting for us all !

Chair, Local Organizing Committee