Integrating Science, Culture in Osaka

Posted: October 30, 2006

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Over the three days of conferences, sessions spanned skin, formulation technology and hair care, evaluation methods, sunscreens, psychology and skin condition, and vehicles. Hot topics raising audience interest included salicyloyl phytosphingosine and its repair effects on photoaged skin; cloning strategies to produce proteins from sea anemone for DNA repair; capsaicin activity and sensitive skin; p. atropurpureus for the treatment of the basement skin layer; combinatorial formulation; a new tool for the measurement of SPF and UVA protection; psychological evaluation of fragrance in menopausal women; sensory acoustics in the assessment of personal care washes; and prefrontal brain activity for the prediction of acne, among others.

Social functions: Attendees were welcomed at a social reception themed “Japan Night,” held Oct. 17, 2006, featuring musical performances, a Bunraku puppet doll performance, a live Rakugo stage artist presenting in English for the first time, a twelve-layered ceremonial robe show and traditional Japanese clothing fashion show and a Danjiri-bayashi music ensemble performed on traditional instruments. The evening’s festivities were hosted at Taiko-en, which highlighted the Yodogawa mansion, an example of traditional Japanese architecture. Guests were invited to remove their shoes to stroll through many rooms displaying artwork, pottery and more. The mansion was nestled within Japanese botanical gardens.

Gala banquet, award presentation ceremony: After three days of concentrated science, the IFSCC congress closed with a formal gala banquet and awards presentation ceremony, spiced with intermittent drum and theatrical performances by Osaka Dadada-dan Tenko and Partner Robot, a robot designed by Toyota with artificial lips and agile fingers to play the trumpet.

Opening remarks and a sake breaking ceremony were given by incoming IFSCC President Kumano. Awards were presented for best poster, applied research and basic research.  

Toshii Iida, PhD (Shiseido Research Center, Japan), was recognized for the poster: “How can we improve the appearance of conspicuous facial pores?” The applied research award was presented to Josette Peguet-Navarro (University Lyon, Dermatology Unit, France), for the paper: “Differential toxicity on monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells: A new tool to differentiate allergens from irritants.”