This symposium organised by the Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology was held on 8–10 November 2000 at Tsukuba City, which was the site of the second international NIR spectroscopy conference in 1989. The attendance of the symposium was 175. The varied programme offered information and recent trends in near infrared spectroscopy and other nondestructive measurement techniques. On the first day, Dr Y. Ozaki (Kwansei-Gakuin University) and Dr K. Miyamoto (Wakayama Fruit Tree Experiment Station) presented basic lectures for NIR users: the principles of near infrared spectroscopy and basic statistics (chemometrics). On the second day, three keynote speakers presented exciting and stimulating lectures. Mr K.H. Norris who is well known as the “Father” of NIR spectroscopy, (“the first generation” of the first generations in NIR), presented “The birth of NIR Spectroscopy and the future”. He reviewed the development of spectroscopic measurements in five decades. His lecture varied from the development of equipment for grading egg shells to the latest instruments. He completed his lecture by the words “My story does not have an ending”, from which the audience realised the importance of taking a leaf out of a wise man’s book. The next keynote speaker Professor R. Cho from Kyungpook National University presented the overall trend of NIR spectroscopy in Korea. He also announced the establishment of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy and the arrangements for the 10th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy. The last keynote speaker Dr S. Turza from the Central Food Research Institute of Hungary introduced NIR spectroscopy in the agriculture and food industry in Hungary. Next, two topics were delivered in Session 1. Dr J. Sugiyama from the National Food Research Institute of Japan reviewed the present status and future prospects for near infrared imaging analysis. Professor K. Toko from Kyushu University introduced an intelligent taste sensor using lipid/polymer membranes. After lunch, NIR Advance Awards were presented to Dr M. Otsuka (Kobe Pharmaceutical University) and Dr H. Takamura (Nara Women’s University) by Dr Y. Matoba who is professor of Nara Women’s University and Chairman of this symposium. Dr Otsuka established the comparative procedure of quantitative analysis of indomethacin polymorphic crystalline contents by using principle component regression analysis based on NIR spectroscopy and conventional powder X-ray diffractometry. Dr Tkamura contributed to the determination of food components and water pollution derived from foods by NIR spectroscopy. Their works were eminently suitable for the receipt of these encouraging awards. They presented commemorative lectures. In Session 2, three speakers gave interesting talks about the routine quality inspection of grains by NIR instruments. Mr M. Chiba from Japan Grain Inspection Association presented an application of a NIR whole-grain analyser to grain quality inspection. Mr S. Shimada from Hokkaido Rice Quality Inspection Centre introduced the practical situation about the grading of protein content in brown rice. Mr J. Kato from Hokkaido Central Agricultural Experiment Station reported on the quality evaluation of major upland crops by NIR spectroscopy. In this symposium, about 20 posters were presented which covered a range of topics related to NIR spectroscopy and many useful discussions were reported. A “Best Poster” prize was awarded for the first time at this symposium, which was won by Dr J. Sugiyama, Dr M. Tsuta and Dr Y. Sagara. Many participants were interested in their poster about the development and application of NIR imaging techniques. The Banquet, which was opened by Mr K. Norris, was held in a relaxed and friendly mood. On the last day, many exciting topics concerned with non-destructive measurements in medical fields were discussed in Session 3. Mr M. Takahashi from Shiseido Research Centre presented the application of non-invasive methods to skin bioengineering. Dr S. Sato from The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research introduced the application of near infrared laser spectroscopy to biomedical studies. Dr M. Kanashiro from National Cardiovascular Centre Research Institute presented the clinical application of near infrared spectroscopy. After the coffee break and poster session, some sponsors for this symposium (Nireco, Bran+Luebbe, Kett Electric Laboratory, Seki Technotron, PerkinElmer Japan, Japan Food Research Laboratories and Japan Bruker) introduced new instruments and projects. Furthermore, various corporations exhibited commercial products related to NIR instruments or software. At the end of programme as Session 4, four topics were presented from the animal science or art field. Mr M. Irie from Osaka Prefectural Agricultural and Forestry Research Center introduced the non-destructive evaluation of meat quality. Mr H. Masago from Jasco Co. presented the development of a portable meat analyser and its application. Dr F. Tereda from the National Institute of Animal Industry introduced the development of new nutritional and medical check-up system based on NIR spectroscopy for dairy cattle. Mr S. Shimoyama from DEN Material Co. presented the non-destructive determination of dyestuffs by the three-dimensional display of fluorescence spectra. The participants could appreciate the wide variety and the applicability of near infrared spectroscopy throughout this exciting and impressive symposium. The next meeting will be held at Tsukuba in November 2001. C