The IRCN Retreat 2024 was held at the Makuhari International Training Center on Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25. This retreat is an important annual meeting for IRCN members, which has resumed after a period of interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 70 participants attended, ranging from all IRCN Principal Investigators (PIs), Core Managers, and newly established Affiliated Principal Investigators, to researchers, students, and internship students from overseas staying at IRCN laboratories, Affiliated Faculty, and young researchers from related institutions. The program unfolded with an orientation by the Director, Dr. Hensch, followed by a ‘Pitch Talk’ session in which PIs, Core Managers, and Affiliated PIs were given five minutes to introduce their labs’ features and the joys of research to young researchers. A breakout session, divided into ten groups, created academic interaction in the mix of labs and job titles. The poster presentation session featured about 40 presentations, and many attendees were seen delving deep into their own research and exchanging ideas, providing a forum where the excitement of research could be felt. The optional cocktail party further strengthened the bonds and networking among the participants. The two-day retreat gave us a sense of its potential to develop into collaborative research across laboratory boundaries.