In Japan, the environment surrounding childcare and children is entering a new phase of development with the establishment of the Children and Family Agency and the revision of standards for the assignment of nursery teacher. While our daily lives are gradually returning to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, we are also entering an era of even greater change, with natural disasters caused by climate change in many parts of the world, conflicts accompanying changes in social conditions, and the emergence of generative AI. The phrase “VUCA era” is becoming increasingly common, and we feel that we are being asked to reconsider what kind of society we want to create.

　Amidst these changes, we are honored to have the opportunity to host the 45th International Society for Early Childhood Education Conference in face to face at Chiba Meitoku College in 2024. This will be the first face-to-face Conference of the International Society for Early Childhood Education in Japan since the 39th conference at Fukuyama City University six years ago. As a post-Corona conference, members of the conference organizing committee have been discussing how to conduct the conference. Despite the advantages of holding the conference online, there is no substitute for the wonderful experience of meeting in the same place to talk about child care and children, and to meet new friends. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chiba.

　Chiba Meitoku College is a small junior college with only one department, the Department of Childcare Creation, but it has specialized in childcare and made unique efforts with variety of ideas. Fifty years after its opening, many of our graduates are active in local nursery school ,kindergarten and welfare facilities. The college is also easily accessible, directly connected to the “Gakuen-mae” Station on the Keisei Chihara Line from Chiba Station. It is also close to Haneda Airport and Narita Airport. We welcome participants from both Japan and abroad.