Circulation Journal: A Cloud Over the Hill

Circulation Journal, the official journal the Japanese Circulation Society, is on the way to becoming one of the major scientific journals in cardiovascular medicine and research in the world.mentioned in my editorial message in the January 2009 issue, believe that the Japanese Circulation Society should represent not only Japan, but also other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.This would make the position of the Journal in our region equivalent to that of Circulation, published by the American Heart Association (AHA), in America and European Heart Journal, published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), in Europe (Figure).Ryotaro Shiba, a famous Japanese writer, described the situation of Japan and the Japanese people in the Meiji era (more than 100 years ago) as "a cloud over the hill" (saka no ue no kumo in Japanese), signifying a developing country (Japan) aiming at Western countries (USA and European countries).The current situation of our Circulation Journal is also "a cloud over the hill", aiming at Circulation and European Heart Journal (Figure).Our Editorial Team will make every effort to enhance the scientific level and internationalization of Circulation Journal as follows.