The Special Cancer Research Program was newly established in 1984 within the existing International Scientific Research Program of the Monbusho (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture) as a part of "the Comprehensive 10-Year Strategy for Cancer Control" which was launched by the Japanese Government in 1984. The Comprehensive 10-Year Strategy for Cancer Control ended successfully 1993 and the Second 10-Year Program was started in 1994. When the Special Cancer Research Program started in 1984, the number of projects was 12 and the number of collaborating countries was 18. Since then the numbers of projects and collaborating countries have increased year by year to 27 projects and 30 collaborating countries in 1995. The cumulative (actual) number of projects from 1984 to 1995 was 216 (62) and the total number of collaborating countries was 57. Major topics covered by the Special Cancer Research Program are; exchanges of scientific information on cancer researches in advanced countries, viruses and parasites related to carcinogenesis, carcinogens/promoters and their inhibitors in the natural environment, migrant studies on cancer, studies on the etiology and prevention of cancers of special interest, and studies on diagnosis and treatment of cancer.