川崎先生を偲んで　A tribute to Dr Kawasaki

川崎病の発見者であられ、日本川崎病学会顧問・日本川崎病研究センター名誉理事長の川崎富作先生の2020年6月5日のご逝去に接し、謹んでお悔やみ申し上げるとともに、心よりご冥福をお祈り致します

川崎先生のご指導の下、日本川崎病学会で30年余りの間、参加させて頂きました。学会で教わってきた多くの中で、一言で申しますとDiversity(多様性)について学ばせて頂きました。2つのDiversityであり、一つは学術領域であり、もう一つは関わる国です。前者では、一般小児科に加え、冠動脈の小児循環器、感染免疫、血管生物学、病理、遺伝学、疫学などで、もう一つは、頻度の多い日本以外のアジア各国、アメリカ、カナダ、ヨーロッパ諸国、他の全ての国の方と関わる機会がありました。これらは、川崎先生の学問領域と国境を跨ぐ幅広いご交流とお人柄の賜物と敬服致しております。

今年2020年10月に、僭越ながら日本川崎病学会のお世話を仰せつかっております。川崎先生にご参加頂けない事は残念ですが、成人期、移行期の川崎病の循環器学の推進に寄与し、学術企画とオンライン開催に関連して国際交流に繋がる事で、ご遺志に添えれば幸いです。

川崎先生、生前のご厚情に深く感謝致します。安らかにお休み下さい。

I would express my sincere condolences on the death of
Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki, the discoverer of Kawasaki disease, who passed away on June 5, 2020, and who was an advisor to the Society and the honorary chairman of the Kawasaki Disease Research Center in Japan.

I have participated in the meetings of Japanese Society of Kawasaki Disease for over 30 years, which was governed under the guidance of Dr. Kawasaki. Through such meetings, what I have learned could be summed up in one simple word: diversity in two areas, one in terms of academic fields and the other in terms of the countries involved. In addition to general pediatrics, I had the opportunity to learn pediatric cardiology in coronary arteries, infectious diseases, immunology, vascular biology, pathology, genetics, and epidemiology. I had the opportunity to meet with people from all over Asia, the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries over the globe. I believe that these opportunities are the result of Dr. Kawasaki’s wide range of human interactions and his personality, which cross academic fields and national borders.

It is an honor and privilege for me to organize the annual meeting of Japanese Society of Kawasaki Disease in October 2020, although I miss Dr Kawasaki in the sessions. In accordance with the wishes of
Dr. Kawasaki, I hope the transition issues would be further integrated and substantiated in the field of Kawasaki disease, and I hope that the academic discussion in the sessions, which can be uniquely realized even in the virtual circumstances, will promote international exchanges.

Dr. Kawasaki, I heartfully appreciate your generous kindness during your life. May you rest in peace.