Past Events & Overview

Edition	Year	Host Cities	Conference Website
1st	1983	Tokyo	－
2nd	1990	Tokyo	－
3rd	1995	Yokohama	－
4th	2000	Tokyo	http://www2.iee.or.jp/~ias/ipec/pprogram/testindex.htm
5th	2005	Niigata	https://www.iee.or.jp/ias/ipec05/home.html
6th	2010	Sapporo	http://www2.iee.or.jp/~ias/IPEC_HP/IPEC2010/
7th	2014	Hiroshima	http://www2.iee.or.jp/~ias/IPEC_HP/IPEC2014/
8th	2018	Niigata	http://www2.iee.or.jp/~ias/IPEC_HP/IPEC2018/
9th	2022	Himeji	http://www2.iee.or.jp/~ias/IPEC_HP/IPEC2022/
10th	2026	Nagasaki	https://ipec2026.org/

0. Before the Inauguration of the IPEC Conference

Power electronics began with the invention of the Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) in 1956. Until then, electric power applications primarily involved voltage and current control using mercury rectifiers and rotating machines. The advent of solid-state semiconductor power converters enabled the use of frequency in power applications, and the term "power electronics" was first proposed in 1974. In Japan, the first oil crisis in 1973 created social unrest and emphasized the urgency of implementing energy-saving technologies. Power devices and power conversion control technologies advanced rapidly, and Japanese researchers began presenting their work internationally.
In 1981, US-Japan Power Electronics Seminar was held, inviting renowned international researchers. This was the first international conference on power electronics in Japan and was attended by leading academics who shaped the field globally.

1. IPEC-Tokyo 1983

Date: March 27 – April 1, 1983
Venue: Keio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku, Tokyo
In April 1979, preparation began for Japan’s first major international academic conference on power electronics, driven by global interest. After eight preparatory meetings over six months, the IEEJ Board approved the conference for April 1983. A formal organizing committee comprising key figures from academia and industry was established in July 1980.
The opening ceremony on March 28 welcomed about 450 participants, with greetings from Chair Prof. Shota Miyairi, Mr. Shoichi Saba (President of Toshiba and IEEJ), and a keynote by Prof. R.G. Hoft.
A total of 565 participants, including 111 from 24 countries, attended. Of the 294 submitted papers from 26 countries, 166 were accepted and presented across 28 regular sessions. A banquet featured a cultural lecture by former Education Minister Michio Nagai. Technical tours included visits to Toshiba and Yaskawa factories.

2. IPEC-Tokyo 1990

Date: April 2–6, 1990
Venue: Keio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Seven years after the first event, the second IPEC-Tokyo was held, reflecting major advances in power electronics and its expanding social impact. International academic exchanges flourished, marked by the founding of the EPE Association and conferences by IEEE.
Organized similarly to the previous event, the opening on April 3 featured welcome addresses and three keynote lectures. The conference had 705 registered participants, including 116 from overseas. Out of 263 submitted summaries from 26 countries, 177 were accepted and presented in 28 regular sessions and a joint session with ISPSD '90.
A banquet started with a toast by Prof. R.G. Hoft, and Dr. E. Reimers (Department of Energy, USA) delivered a lecture titled "One Hundred Years of Electricity," offering his unique perspective on a century of electrical technology. Technical tours included Nissan and TEPCO facilities and the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute.

3. IPEC-Yokohama 1995

Date: April 3–7, 1995
Venue: Pacifico Yokohama
Held amid the Kobe Earthquake and Tokyo subway sarin attack, all participants were insured. The conference featured an exhibition and a comprehensive technical digest.
After the opening address by IEEJ President Oka, two keynote lectures were delivered. 621 people, including 140 international participants, attended. Of 383 extended summaries, 328 were accepted. Presentations were given in 54 regular and 12 poster sessions.
The banquet featured a lecture by Dr. Azusa Tomiura on the industrial relevance of power electronics and steel. Technical tours included TEPCO substations, power plants, and electric vehicle demonstrations.

4. IPEC-Tokyo 2000

Date: April 3–7, 2000
Venue: Keio Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Opening on April 4 with three keynote addresses, the event hosted 631 participants, including 152 from abroad. Of 465 submitted summaries, 329 were accepted and presented in 30 regular and 21 poster sessions.
A technical digest and exhibition were featured. The banquet included a toast by Prof. M.S. Ko and a lecture by Prof. Fumio Harashima on the future of power electronics and mechatronics. Young researcher awards were also presented. Technical tours included thermal power plants and maglev facilities.

5. IPEC-Niigata 2005

Date: April 4–8, 2005
Venue: Toki Messe, Niigata
Held outside Tokyo for the first time, IPEC-Niigata utilized low-cost venues and extended to four days. A special seminar on power electronics education drew nearly 200 participants.
Opening speeches and plenary talks by Prof. Tadashi Fukao, Prof. John G. Kassakian, and Dr. Leo Lorenz set the tone. 315 papers were selected from 458 submissions and presented in 74 oral sessions. Poster sessions were omitted to encourage active discussion.
A seminar on technical English was held, and the banquet gathered 300 participants, followed by a speech and the award ceremony for nine Paper Awards and three Takahashi Awards.
For the first time, conference proceedings were distributed on CD-ROM. A special issue of IEEJ Transactions featured 50 selected papers. Support from 15 sponsors was secured through online banner ads. A popular kimono experience event was offered to international guests' spouses.

6. IPEC-Sapporo 2010

Date: June 21–24, 2010
Venue: Sapporo Convention Center
Marking the start of a Japan-China-Korea ECCE-Asia rotation, the conference focused on “Power Electronics for a Sustainable Society.”
Pre-opening industrial seminars were followed by a welcome party. Plenary speakers included Dr. E. Shoda, Dr. Snitchler, and Dr. Peter K. Steimer. Of 758 submissions, 512 papers were presented in up to nine parallel sessions. Japan led in submissions, followed by Taiwan, Korea, and China.
Events included an International Night at Sapporo Beer Garden and a banquet with a lecture by Dr. Kume. Attendance peaked at 742.

7. IPEC-Hiroshima 2014

Date: May 18–21, 2014
Venue: Hiroshima International Conference Center
With the theme “Power Electronics for a Peaceful World,” the conference was co-hosted by IEEE PELS under ECCE Asia. Industry seminars, a welcome party, and keynote lectures addressed wide-ranging power electronics topics. 608 papers were presented from 788 submissions, a record number.
A successful International Night was held on Miyajima Island. The event won the “International Conference Hosting Contribution Award” from JNTO.
IEEJ retained copyright; IEEE obtained usage rights, enabling publication on IEEE Xplore and IEEJ Digital Library. A special issue of IEEJ Journal of Industry Applications published 60 selected papers.

8. IPEC-Niigata 2018

Date: May 20–24, 2018
Venue: Toki Messe Niigata Convention Center
With over 1,000 participants, this was the largest IPEC and ECCE-Asia event to date.
The Students and Young Engineers Meeting, led by PPEJ and co-hosted by IEEE PELS/IAS, enabled global exchange among young researchers. Of 930 submissions from 40 countries, 677 papers were accepted.
Plenary sessions covered DC-DC converters, EV powertrains, energy internet, HVDC, and motor drive systems. A grand banquet featured sake tasting and cultural hospitality, reflecting IPEC’s spirit of global friendship.

9. IPEC-Himeji 2022

Date: May 15–19, 2022
Venue: Himeji City Convention Center "Arcrea Himeji"
This was the first hybrid-format IPEC. 294 joined online and 440 on-site, including about 20 overseas participants. The event began with the Students and Young Engineers Meeting, continuing PPEJ’s initiative. Of 669 submissions from 35 countries, 442 were accepted. New topics included Human Factors, Image Recognition, and Smart Facilities.
A Student Poster Competition was introduced to engage students deprived of in-person opportunities. The banquet followed an independent award ceremony, uniting in-person and online participants in celebration.