Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery

What Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery does

The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery (JSGS), 一般社団法人日本消化器外科学会, is a non-profit general incorporated association founded on April 12, 1968 and headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo. It operates as Japan's largest subspecialty surgical professional society, with 18,923 members (as of June 2026), including 9,446 certified gastroenterological surgeons, 11,302 gastroenterological cancer surgical treatment certified doctors, 7,145 teaching physicians, and 1,184 designated training facilities (as of February 2026). The society's core functions are professional certification, standardized training, continuing education, and academic publishing in the field of gastroenterological surgery, delivered through a community-led go-to-market model.

The society operates a portfolio of technical and content assets: an NCD (National Clinical Database) integration for prospective surgical procedure registration and clinical audit (mandatory for specialist certification since 2011); two academic journals — the long-running Japanese Journal of Gastroenterological Surgery (fully electronic since 2011) and the English-language Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery (AGSurg, launched 2017, published via Wiley, first Impact Factor in 2021); an e-learning platform established in 2011 supporting the official textbook 'Knowledge for Gastroenterological Surgery Specialists' and certification examinations; an electronic voting system for governance introduced in 2014; and a member portal (MyWeb) serving over 18,900 physicians. Annual academic events include the JSGS General Meeting (81st iteration scheduled July 2026 in Osaka), the Annual Meeting/Japan Digestive Disease Week (JDDW), the JESUS hands-on surgical skills program, and U-40 Committee activities for young surgeons.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues (10,000 JPY for general members, 18,000 JPY for councilors; honorary and special members are exempt), with secondary streams from academic conference registrations, journal subscriptions and publication-related income, and certification and examination fees across the specialist, supervising physician, cancer treatment, and training facility designations. The fiscal year runs May 1 to April 30. The society holds a structural regulatory position as the certifier of gastroenterological surgery specialists and training facilities in Japan, and maintains governance roles in the NCD, JDDW, Japan Medical Association Federation, Japan Specialist Medicine Organization, and the Surgical Society Council. Recent strategic initiatives include the Hakodate Declaration (2023), the Harassment Elimination Declaration (2025), a new specialist certification system (2021), and the launch of the official X (Twitter) account (2024).

Name

Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery

Legal name

一般社団法人は日本消化器外科学会

Website

https://jsgs.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery (JSGS) is a Tokyo-based, non-profit professional medical society founded in 1968 that certifies, trains, and represents gastroenterological surgeons across Japan through membership, journals, e-learning, conferences, and a national clinical outcomes database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Professional Society Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAANAI

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Certification Programs

SECONDARYEDAAALAC

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYEDAGANAJ

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Professional Development & Training Materials

SECONDARYEDABALAN

Healthcare Providers

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Industry-Specific Professional Training (e.g., Healthcare, Manufacturing, Construction)

Keywords

• Professional medical society
• Surgical certification programs
• Medical journal publishing
• Clinical database registry
• Surgical education training

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Dues: Primary revenue stream. General members pay 10,000 JPY per year; councilors pay 18,000 JPY per year. Honorary members and special members are exempt from dues. The fiscal year runs May 1 to April 30.
2. Academic Conference Revenue: Revenue from annual academic conferences including the General Meeting (総会) and Annual Meeting/JDDW (大会). The society holds approximately one academic meeting per year in each category.
3. Publication Revenue: Revenue from the Japanese Journal of Gastroenterological Surgery (fully electronic since 2011) and the English journal Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery (published via Wiley). Includes journal subscriptions and potentially open-access article processing charges for AGSurg.
4. Certification and Examination Fees: Revenue from processing applications for gastroenterological surgeon certification, teaching physician certification, cancer surgical treatment certified doctor certification, and designated training facility accreditation. Examination and renewal fees are collected for specialist certifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Operates as a professional medical society for gastroenterological surgeons in Japan. Provides specialist certification systems (gastroenterological surgeon, teaching physician, cancer surgical treatment certified doctor), designates accredited training facilities, publishes two academic journals (a Japanese-language journal and the English-language Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery), runs annual academic conferences, an e-learning platform, the JESUS surgical skills training program, and participates in the National Clinical Database (NCD) for surgical outcomes registration.

Product overview

The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery (JSGS) is a professional medical society, not a commercial product company. The organization operates a portfolio of member services including two academic journals (Japanese-language journal and English-language Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery), a comprehensive specialist certification system (gastroenterological surgery specialists, supervising physicians, cancer surgical treatment certified doctors), educational programs (JESUS hands-on training, e-learning system), young surgeon development initiatives (U-40 Committee), and annual academic conferences. These services support the professional development and certification of gastroenterological surgeons across Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery (AGSurg): Official English journal of the society, published by Wiley Online Library, with an Impact Factor

Products and services

• Japanese Journal of Gastroenterological Surgery (日本消化器外科学会雑誌) The society's official Japanese-language peer-reviewed journal, publishing research articles on gastroenterological surgery. The journal has been published since 1969 and transitioned to fully electronic distribution in 2011. Targeted at Japanese gastroenterological surgeons, researchers, and member physicians.
• Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery (AGSurg) The society's official English-language journal, launched in 2017 and published via Wiley Online Library. Provides international dissemination of gastroenterological surgery research and obtained its first Impact Factor in 2021. Targeted at the global surgical research community.
• Gastroenterological Surgery Specialist Certification System (消化器外科専門医制度) A multi-tiered professional certification system granting titles including Certified Gastroenterological Surgeon, Teaching Physician, Gastroenterological Cancer Surgical Treatment Certified Doctor, Japan Gastroenterological Surgery Society Certified Doctor, and Designated Training Facility accreditation. Certification requires examination, NCD data submission, and periodic renewal. Targeted at practicing surgeons and hospitals in Japan.
• JESUS (Japanese Skill Education for Young Gastroenterological Surgeons) A hands-on surgical skills training program for young gastroenterological surgeons, featuring expert-led workshops on advanced surgical techniques. Targeted at surgeons under 40 and early-career specialists.
• e-Learning System (e-ラーニングシステム) An online learning platform established in 2011 for continuous professional education of gastroenterological surgeons. Includes the official textbook 'Knowledge for Gastroenterological Surgery Specialists' (消化器外科専門医の心得), practice question collections, and certification exam preparation modules. Targeted at member surgeons and certification candidates.
• JSGS Annual Academic Conferences (総会 and 大会/JDDW) The society's annual academic conferences, including the General Meeting (総会) and the Annual Meeting held jointly with Japan Digestive Disease Week (JDDW). These feature scientific presentations, workshops, the U-40 Surgical Seminar, and the AGSurg Forum. Held in rotating Japanese cities with hybrid format since 2020. Targeted at member surgeons, researchers, and medical trainees.
• Public Lectures (市民公開講座) Public education lectures and a video library on gastroenterological surgery topics, digestive health, surgical treatments, and related subjects. Targeted at the general public and citizens seeking health information.
• Specialist and Training Facility Search Directory Public online searchable directory enabling patients and institutions to locate certified gastroenterological surgeons (9,479 specialists) and designated training facilities (1,184 facilities) across Japan. Targeted at patients seeking qualified specialists and referring institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 18,900 members as of June 2026, making it the largest surgical subspecialty society in Japan.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Clinical Database (NCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society is a founding and governing member of the NCD, which serves as the foundational database for Japan's surgical specialty certification system. NCD data is used for quality assessment, prospective surgical registration, clinical audits, and research. The society's Database Committee oversees NCD operations, and NCD data is mandatory for gastroenterological surgeon certification from 2011 onward. The society contributes board members and operational leadership to NCD governance.
• Japan Medical Association (日本医学会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society is a member of the Japan Medical Association Federation and its specialized subcommittee structure. The society holds seats on the Japan Medical Association's Councilors and Liaison Committee, and contributes medical terminology experts to its committees. The society's president and designated members serve in official Japan Medical Association roles.
• Japan Digestive Disease Week (JDDW) / Japanese Digestive Disease Week OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society participates in the JDDW consortium alongside other gastroenterological and digestive disease societies. The annual JDDW conference (日本消化器外科学会大会) is organized jointly, with the 23rd Annual Meeting held in 2025 and the 24th scheduled for 2026. The society holds board representation in the JDDW organizational structure.
• Japan Specialist Medicine Organization (日本専門医機構)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society participates in the Japan Specialist Medicine Organization, which coordinates subspecialty medical certification standards across Japan. The society's gastroenterological surgery certification system interacts with the organization's overarching specialist physician framework, particularly following the new specialist certification system's launch in 2021.
• Surgical Society Council (外科関連学会協議会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society is a member of the Surgical Society Council alongside other major surgical specialty societies including the Japan Esophageal Society, Japan Acute Care Surgery Society, Japan Society of Anesthesiologists, Japan Surgery Society, and others. The council coordinates standards and policies across surgical disciplines.
• Japan Medical Association Federation (日本医学会連合)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society is a member of the Japan Medical Association Federation, which represents medical specialty societies in Japan. The federation coordinates cross-specialty research initiatives, policy positions, and international collaborations. The society's delegates participate in the federation's assembly and working groups.
• Gastroenterological Surgery Specialist System Council (消化器外科関連専門医制度協議会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society chairs and coordinates the Gastroenterological Surgery Specialist System Council, which aligns certification standards across gastroenterological surgery subspecialties including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, hepatobiliary-pancreatic, and other related areas. The council includes representation from societies such as the Japan Esophageal Society, Japan Gastric Cancer Association, and Japanese Society for Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.
• Surgical Society Specialist Certification Committee (外科関連専門医制度委員会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society participates in the Surgical Society Specialist Certification Committee alongside the Japan Surgery Society, Japan Pediatric Surgery Society, Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Certification Organization, and others. This committee coordinates specialist physician certification standards and accreditation policies across surgical fields.
• Gastroenterological Surgery Database Allied Societies (消化器外科データベース関連学会協議会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe society chairs the Gastroenterological Surgery Database Allied Societies, which coordinates gastroenterological surgery data standards and database governance across 18 societies including the Japan Esophageal Society, Japan Gastric Cancer Association, Japanese Society for Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Japan Pancreas Society, Japanese Society for Endoscopic Surgery, and others.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Japan Surgical Society (日本外科学会): Japan's primary surgical professional society covering general surgery, directly comparable to JSGS as a peer specialty society operating certification systems, journals, and annual meetings for surgeons in Japan.
• Japan Esophageal Society (日本食道学会): Japanese subspecialty society for esophageal surgery that co-participates with JSGS in the Gastroenterological Surgery Specialist System Council and Database Allied Societies. Directly comparable peer in the same national certification ecosystem.
• Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery (日本肝胆膵外科学会): Subspecialty surgical society in Japan that participates in the same Database Allied Societies council and certification coordination bodies as JSGS. Directly comparable in scale and structure to a peer Japanese surgical society.
• Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery (日本内視鏡外科学会): Japanese society for endoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery, participating in the same Database Allied Societies and JDDW co-organization as JSGS. Comparable as a peer Japanese surgical subspecialty society.
• Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO): U.S.-based society focused on surgical oncology, directly comparable to JSGS in scope (surgical cancer treatment certification, training, and research) and overlapping interest in cancer surgical treatment certification systems.
• Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (日本消化器内視鏡学会): Specialty society for gastrointestinal endoscopy in Japan, sharing overlapping member base, NCD participation, JDDW co-organization, and certification frameworks with JSGS.
• Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (日本消化器病学会): Parallel Japanese specialty society focused on gastroenterology (medical, non-surgical). Highly comparable to JSGS in structure (professional society, certification, journals, conferences) and overlapping scope (digestive diseases).

Broad incumbents

• American College of Surgeons (ACS): The largest and most established surgical professional society in the U.S., comparable to JSGS in mission (surgical certification, education, advocacy, journals) but operating at much greater scale and with broader specialty coverage.
• Royal College of Surgeons of England: Historic UK-based surgical professional body offering comparable certification, training, and examination services. A structural analog to JSGS in how a national society can own the surgical specialist credentialing pathway.

Emerging players

• European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO): European counterpart focused on surgical oncology education, training, and research. Comparable to JSGS in mission and member base orientation toward cancer surgeons, but smaller scale and more recently established as a unifying body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xjsgs.or.jp/others/officialsns
• Facebookfacebook.com/JSGS.japan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery