Tokyo 2026.
World Federation Right to Die Societies Biennial Conference – Tokyo 25-28 November 2026
The federation's biennial conference is in Tokyo, where the first international meeting was held in 1976. Four days for member societies, doctors, lawyers and campaigners to compare how end-of-life choice works around the world.
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25–28
November 2026
Wednesday to Saturday: sessions, a welcome party and a gala dinner.
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JPY 20,000
To register
Online only, until Tuesday 24 November. No registration at the venue.
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Tokyo
Toshi Center Hotel, Tokyo
Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda, in central Tokyo.
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50
Years since 1976
The first international meeting, and the declaration that called for a federation.
Back where it began.
1976 The first conference 2026 50 years on
In August 1976 the newly founded Japan Society for Dying with Dignity invited right-to-die societies from Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States to Tokyo. That first international meeting adopted the Tokyo Declaration. Its five principles are below. Fifty years on, the conference is held in the city where they were written.
The Tokyo Declaration, 1976
- Decisions about care at the end of life belong to the person themselves.
- A living will setting out those wishes should be respected as a fundamental human right.
- A legal framework should be established to make that possible.
- An international federation should be created to share information around the world.
- International conferences should be held regularly to deepen understanding.
Four days in Tokyo.
Plenaries, panels and oral presentations from member societies and researchers, with time between the sessions to meet the people doing the same work in other countries.
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25Wednesday
Welcome reception
For the boards of the federation and the Japan Society for Dying with Dignity.
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26Thursday
General Assembly and keynotes
The federation's General Assembly and the opening ceremony, keynotes from Rob Jonquière and Sean Davison, and a symposium on end-of-life law in East Asia.
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27Friday
Assisted dying around the world
Parallel sessions on assisted dying laws, palliative care and sedation, VSED, dementia and artificial nutrition. The gala dinner follows.
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28Saturday
Film and open activities
A screening of the film Peaceful Death, the Go Wish game, consultation booths and therapy dogs. Book these in advance.
Themes on the programme
- End-of-life care in East Asia
- Caring for families, carers and medical professionals
- Older people living alone
- How widely living wills are used
- Assisted dying laws in Europe
- The scope of medical assistance in dying
- The legal standing of the living will
- Withdrawing ventilation, nutrition and hydration
- Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking
- Symposium: dementia and the living will
Around the sessions
Every session in the main hall has live subtitles: an AI speech-translation system shows them on screen under the slides. Expect a short delay and the occasional mistranslation.
Register online.
Registration is online only and closes on Tuesday 24 November. There is no registration at the venue.
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General participant
JPY 20,000Every session, the materials, the welcome party, coffee breaks and lunches.
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Accompanying person
JPY 10,000The social programme only: no sessions or certificate of attendance.
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Gala dinner
JPY 10,000Optional, Friday 27 November. Book by Tuesday 3 November.
The registration fee includes
- The scientific and educational programme
- Conference materials
- The welcome party
- Coffee breaks and lunches
How it works
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Register online
Fill in the form on the conference website and pay the fee. Add the gala dinner there too.
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Keep the confirmation email
It arrives straight away and holds a QR code: your badge voucher.
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Bring the QR code
Printed or on your phone. Show it at the venue to collect your badge.
No confirmation email? Contact the organising secretariat. Contact details
Getting there.
The conference is at the Toshi Center Hotel in Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda, in the centre of Tokyo.
Toshi Center Hotel, Tokyo
2-4-1 Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-kuTokyo
Japan
Your hosts in Tokyo.
The conference is hosted by the Japan Society for Dying with Dignity, which convened the first international meeting in 1976 and has campaigned since for the living will to be recognised in Japanese law.
Congress chair: Yoshihiro Kitamura, Japan Society for Dying with Dignity