The joy of the 11th International Fission Yeast Meeting in Hiroshima (POMBE2023 Hiroshima) after a long wait due to the COVID-19 pandemic

The 11th International Fission Yeast Meeting took place at Astel Plaza in Hiroshima, Japan, from May 28th to June 2nd, 2023. This highly anticipated gathering, originally scheduled for May 2021, had been postponed for 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers from 21 countries, including 211 overseas and 157 domestic participants (overall gender ratio is roughly 60% male vs. 40% female), eagerly awaited the opportunity to meet in person, as virtual interactions had been the only means of communication during this challenging period. The meeting featured four kick-off special lectures, 101 regular talks, and 152 poster presentations. Additionally, a discussion session on upfront frontier research in fission yeast provided an interactive platform for both speakers and attendees. Throughout the event, participants shared cutting-edge knowledge, celebrated significant research findings, and relished the invaluable experience of an in-person meeting. The vibrant and friendly atmosphere, characteristic of this esteemed international conference, fostered collaboration and reinforced the significance of studying this exceptional model organism. Undoubtedly, the outcomes of this meeting will greatly contribute to our understanding of complex biological systems, not only in fission yeast but also in general eukaryotes.