My name is Jun-ichi Tanuma, Professor of Oral Pathology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, and Director of the Laboratory of Dental Pathology, Department of Pathology, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital. Although I am a young man, I am truly honored to be appointed as the head of this traditional department, and I feel the seriousness of this responsibility. I look forward to working with you.

Oral pathology is a field that integrates the basic and clinical sciences through the medical practice of diagnosis, and can also bridge the gap between dentistry and medicine, and between the basic and clinical sciences. In dental education, we aim to foster researchers and human resources who can play an active role in international research as well as lead the future of dental schools, graduate schools, and the dental community through collaboration between common education and undergraduate education, between undergraduate education and graduate education, and through the development of educational technology and teaching materials.

In oral pathology, which is directly linked to medical treatment, the most important aspect of oral pathology is the improvement of diagnostic accuracy, which we believe must be achieved through the development of new diagnostic techniques, including genetic analysis, and the fusion of accumulated morphological diagnosis.

I would like to express my sincere hope that I can contribute to the development of dentistry, not only at Niigata University School of Dentistry but also at Niigata University Graduate School, and I would appreciate your guidance, encouragement, and cooperation as well as that of the members of my department.