Many thanks go to our convenor, Kazuhiko Demura, who was ably assisted by Naoki Kamimura. Through Kazuhiko we would like to thank his wife Miyako and the team of volunteers who assisted during the conference with registration and set up. In addition to our two keynote speakers, Edwina Murphy from Australian University of Theology (Style and Substance; Cyprian, Rhetoric, and Scripture) and Nosomu Hiroishi from Sophia University, Tokyo (Allegorical Interpretations of Jesus' Parables in the New Testament and the Church Fathers: A Study on the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12:1-11, parr.) and its Early Reception), there ended up being 48 papers presented in 21 sessions. This was our largest conference to date, eclipsing that of 2005 in Melbourne. Participants came from 13 different countries, including many graduate students. Many friendships were renewed or created during these three days.

As well, there were many opportunities to celebrate Japanese culture, from Ikebana flower arrangement from Hiromi Tanaka, and the tea ceremony from Tomoko Kikuchi, to the Noh theatre workshop from Yoshiteru Takeda and Takafumi Takeda, with the opportunity for participants also to visit the Takahata Fudo Buddhist temple f the Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty theme park). A splendid evening was had with the conference dinner on site.