Since the first report on fulminant type 1 diabetes by Imagawa et al. in 2000 [1], Japanese research led by the Committee on Type 1 Diabetes, Japan Diabetes Society, has revealed the disease’s genetics, etiology, and pathogenesis. As current chairpersons of the committee, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the participants and members actively involved in the nationwide studies orchestrated by the committee. We also thank the Japan Diabetes Society for its continuous support and encouragement. The knowledge presented in this special issue could only be obtained with the shared effort of all these individuals and institutions.

A prominent trait of fulminant type 1 diabetes is the evident variation in disease incidence among different populations [2]. The majority of patients belong to East Asian populations, while in Europe, only a limited number of cases have ever been reported. The lack of European fulminant type 1 diabetes cases indicates that the disease can only be studied in East Asian populations. In Japan, nationwide studies led by the Committee on Type 1 Diabetes have greatly contributed to the fundamental knowledge of the disease’s epidemiology, clinical characteristics, genetics, etiology, and pathogenesis (Table 1) [3,4,5,6,7]. Although a large amount of information on fulminant type 1 diabetes is now available, much remains to be clarified. Thus, the continuation of the Japanese nationwide research effort is essential to establish effective methods for disease prediction, prevention, and intervention. Finally, we would like to ask all the people in the field of diabetes research and the Japan Diabetes Society for their continued support.

Table 1 Studies on fulminant type 1 diabetes conducted by the Committee on Type 1 Diabetes, Japan Diabetes Society
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