On behalf of the organizing committee of the 3rd Asian Pain Symposium (APS 2008), I cordially invite you to participate in the APS 2008, which will be held in Fukuoka in July 18th to 19th, 2008. Fukuoka is the most rapidly diversifying city economically and culturally in western part of Japan and the ideal location for the APS 2008, since it is the closest city from Korea, China and other Asian countries, and having long historical and cultural interactions with neighboring countries for more than several thousand years, therefore granting participants easy find historical influences.
The organizing committee and I would like to emphasize this symposium is held together with the 30th Annual Meeting of Japanese Association for The Study of Pain and also the 42nd Annual Meeting of Japan Society of Pain Clinicians during 18th-20th, expecting more than 2000 pain researchers and clinicians will join the meeting.
The main aim of the APS 2008 will primarily be scientific, bringing you the latest knowledge and inspiring each other in understanding mechanisms, assessments, prevention of chronic pain, in particular neuropathic pain, however, providing a chance to make a collaboration and promoting cultural exchange and strengthening our international friendship is also an important objective.
In order to accomplish “Message from Asia”, which is the main theme of Fukuoka Pain 2008, several participated researchers who are leading the field of pain have been enthusiastically considering to establishing the Federation of Pain Society in Asia, which would be an important step to promote the pain research and clinical treatment in Asia.
The organizing committee and I hope this Symposium will bring you the latest and most up-to-date information from the best sources, and additionally many researchers and clinicians are sharing an idea concerning Federation of Asian Pain Society for the future progress in Pain in Asia.

Sincerely yours.