One year has passed since I started as the Editor-in-Chief for Journal of Human Genetics (JHG). I tried my best to maintain and to improve the scientific quality of published articles in JHG. Actually the 2013 journal impact factor is improving (2.526). Without the continuous and tremendous support by all the Associated Editors, Editorial Board members and reviewers, such wonderful success in JHG would never have been achieved. I really appreciate their great contribution. I believe that JHG will truly become the leading human genetics journal in the world.

Last year, we experienced a special event. Human Genome Variation (HGV), which is an online open access journal with accompanying database, was newly launched as a new sister journal of JHG. The Editor-in-Chief for HGV is Professor Katsushi Tokunaga who was the former Editor-in-Chief for JHG. One of the important missions of HGV is publishing human mutation data from all over the world together with the easily searchable database of such mutations. JHG and HGV have their own Associate Editors, but completely share the Editorial Board members. JHG seeks more scientific novelty and HGV accepts more mutations from different ethnic groups. Both journals enhance and promote human genetic researches under the guidance of the Japan Society of Human Genetics.

Finally, I would happily announce that 2015 is a special year for JHG: 60 years anniversary. We are now planning the special scientific sections in the next 12 months for celebrating the anniversary. We look forward to seeing exciting special sections and of course receiving wonderful manuscripts for JHG from all over the world.