Welcome Message from the President

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and pray for the people's rapid recovery.

As the successor to the Insurance Society of 1895, the Japanese Society of Insurance Science was founded on November 24, 1940, making it one of Japan's oldest and most venerated academic societies in the humanities. Even now, well after my election as chairman at the 70th anniversary conference held on the Waseda University campus on October 2010, I am still awed by the honor, tradition and responsibility of the office. With the generous support and cooperation of the directors, trustees, auditors and members, I am determined to serve my term with full faith and sincerity.

Whenever economic entities like firms and households perform economic activities, they inevitably confront a variety of risks. These risks can sometimes produce unfavorable economic consequences such as (1) property losses, (2) income or revenue losses, and (3) other extraordinary cost burdens. The function of insurance is to reduce or eliminate such exposures so that economic entities can operate with some degree of certainty. In addition, new social, economic, and environmental risks have emerged from secular trends such as global warming, rapid aging, and globalization. To take just one example, in a world where every pension beneficiary needs the support of two workers, the matter of balancing roles between public and private insurance takes on a whole new significance. As insurance grows in importance to society, so too do the expectations put upon JSIS researchers.

JSIS aims to promote research and cooperation in insurance science, and to facilitate interactions and exchanges with related academic societies and organizations in Japan and abroad (Article 2 of bylaws). We pursue these aims through the following three areas of activity.

First, we organize annual conference and local activities. The annual conference is held in October on a university campus. Common discussion themes, symposiums, and individual papers serve to facilitate fascinating discussions, and a wonderful guest speaker is invited from JSIS or elsewhere to deliver a stimulating commemorative address. In addition, the Kanto and Kansai sections and Kyushu chapter hold two to four regular meetings per year where members have the opportunity to present their latest research findings and engage in constructive exchanges of opinion.

Second, we publish the papers presented at these meetings in the Journal of Insurance Science to reach a broader audience. The refereed papers system which was introduced lately gives aspiring graduate students and young researchers in particular the chance to establish a significant body of work. It also features occasional topics on insurance-related economic and social trends, thereby enhancing the journal's appeal to members.

Third, we promote international exchanges. We already have an ongoing exchange with our sister society in Korea to report on our respective annual conference proceedings. In addition, we second directors to AIDA (International Association for Insurance Law, London) and APRIA (Asia-Pacific Risk and Insurance Association, Singapore) meetings, and looking ahead, see a growing need to enhance ties with China and its dynamic economy as well as with advanced insurance countries in the West.

The JSIS membership now numbers approximately 900, of whom 200 are academic members and 700 are business members. In carrying out our activities, we hope to offer business members more compelling themes and motivate greater sharing of our energy and wisdom. I ask your cooperation and support so that we can advance the goals of JSIS together.

Masahiko Ezawa

President, The Japanese Society of Insurance Science
Professor, Waseda University

ACTIVITIES

The Japanese Society of Insurance Science (J.S.I.S.) is a nonprofit, professional organization whose objective is to advance the scholarly study of insurance, and to foster cooperation and communication among its academic members, while providing an effective forum for the exchange of information with other insurance professionals in Japan and abroad.

Principal activities:

1. The Society’s Annual Meeting (presentation of research papers and summary of the year’s affairs)
2. Regional meetings and colloquia in a variety of locations throughout Japan (organized by the local chapters)
3. Publication of a quarterly journal (Journal of Insurance Science) and periodic publication of research bulletins.
4. Special meetings and activities as appropriate and subject to approval by the Board of Directors

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY

1895

Tamaki, Shida and Awazu, three insurance researchers from the (then) Tokyo Imperial University form a study group and subsequently establish “The Insurance Society”.

1896

Publication of the first “Journal of Insurance Science”.

1898

An extraordinary meeting is held to draft the Society’s Articles of Association.

1940

A group of nine researchers (Messrs. Fujimoto, Iwamoto, Kojima, Mori, Shida, Shiina, Sono Suetaka and Takitani) meet to plan the formal establishment of the “Japanese Society of Insurance Science”.
That same year, in November, they hold their first plenary meeting at Tokyo Imperial University, but soon thereafter, as the war intensifies, all activities are suspended. By 1948 the Society is no longer active.

1950

The Japanese Society of Insurance Science reassembles and convenes its first plenary meeting since the war.

1990

The Japanese Society of Insurance Science celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

MEMBERSHIP INFO

Membership is governed by the Society’s Articles of Association and Bylaws.This information is currently available only in Japanese, but individuals or institutions interested in joining the Society may contact the Secretariat for further details on eligibility and membership dues.

SECRETARIAT

Contact Address:

Japanese Society of Insurance Science Secretariat
Sonpo-kaikan Building 8F,
9, Kanda Awajicho 2-chome, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 101-8335, Japan

Phone: +81-3-3255-5511 (Japanese only)
Fax: +81-3-3255-1449
E-mail:gakkai@sonposoken.or.jp

Please contact us by e-mail or facsimile if you have further questions about our activities.