Excellence That Inspires Excellence
One of the great privileges of serving as ISPE’s President and CEO is the opportunity to see our global community in action. Every Affiliate and Chapter has its own character and strengths, but there is something distinctive about the culture of excellence that exists within the ISPE Japan Affiliate.
That culture was on full display at the 2026 ISPE Japan Affiliate Annual Conference.
Although I was disappointed that my schedule prevented me from attending this year’s conference, I followed its success with great interest and am already looking forward to joining our colleagues in Japan next year.
Congratulations to the Japan Affiliate on another outstanding event. Bringing together pharmaceutical professionals from across Japan takes months of planning, countless volunteer hours, and an unwavering commitment to serving the industry. Every volunteer, speaker, sponsor, and organizer who contributed to this year’s conference should be proud of what they accomplished.
The conference provided an outstanding forum for learning, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. More importantly, it reflected something I have come to admire about the Japanese pharmaceutical community: a genuine commitment to sharing knowledge so that the entire industry advances together.
One of the highlights of the conference was hearing from Kenji Kamada, PhD, President and CEO of Chugai Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.
Having visited Chugai’s UK4 biologics manufacturing facility in Tokyo last year, I already knew firsthand the pride their team takes in its work. During that visit, it was impossible to miss what the ISPE Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) program meant to the people who had designed, built, and now operate that facility. The award was prominently displayed. Team members spoke about it with genuine pride. It was clear that recognition from industry peers carried tremendous meaning for the entire organization.
Read more about the facility visit: https://ispe.org/pharmaceutical-engineering/ispeak/visit-zhongwaizhiyaogongyezhushihuishe-chugais-award-winning
It was therefore especially rewarding to learn that, following its 2024 FOYA Category Award for Social Impact, Chugai has once again been recognized by the FOYA program, earning an Honorable Mention this year. Sustained recognition like this does not happen by accident. It reflects an organization that continually strives to improve, innovate, and share its accomplishments with the broader industry.
After the conference, Hiroshi Yamaguchi shared a thought that perfectly captures why recognition programs like FOYA matter:
Recognition through the FOYA program is a tremendous source of pride and motivation for Chugai Pharmaceutical and many other Japanese companies. It is truly inspiring to see Japanese organizations continuing to challenge themselves and pursue excellence through future FOYA submissions and other industry-leading initiatives.
I found that perspective particularly meaningful because it reflects exactly what the FOYA program was created to accomplish.
The greatest value of recognition is not simply celebrating what has already been achieved. It is inspiring what comes next.
When companies openly share their accomplishments, the entire profession benefits. New ideas spread. Better approaches emerge. Standards continue to rise. Patients ultimately receive the greatest benefit.
That spirit of continuous improvement and shared learning was evident throughout the conference. Success was not treated as something to protect. It was viewed as something to contribute. Companies openly discussed their experiences, their challenges, and their innovations so others could learn from them.
That is one of the defining strengths of the Japan Affiliate.
It is also a powerful reminder of why ISPE exists. Our mission has never been simply to recognize excellence. It is to create a community where excellence can be shared, challenged, and multiplied.
Congratulations to the ISPE Japan Affiliate for hosting another exceptional Annual Conference and for creating an environment where the industry’s best ideas can be exchanged so openly.
Congratulations as well to Kenji Kamada, PhD, and everyone at Chugai Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. Your continued pursuit of excellence demonstrates what is possible when innovation, engineering, and purpose come together. Even more importantly, your willingness to share your journey is inspiring other organizations across Japan—and around the world—to pursue the same high standard.
Ultimately, that is the true power of recognition.
It doesn’t simply celebrate excellence.
It inspires more of it.
