The majority pathological type of esophageal cancer in both China and Japan is squamous cell carcinoma, whose biological characteristics and treatment strategies are different with those of European and American patients. After more than eighty years of development, Japanese esophageal surgeons have explored a set of more advanced surgical techniques and diagnostic strategies, which is unique in the world. With the establishment of the Japanese Society of Esophagus, Japanese scholars developed and irregularly updated the Japanese Classification of Esophageal Cancer. Also, the Japanese Clinical Oncology Group organized a number of phase Ⅲ clinical studies on esophageal cancer, providing strong evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal squamous carcinoma. With the increasing academic exchanges between China and Japan, we have more learning opportunities. This article focuses on the current hot topics of esophageal cancer surgical treatment, based on our interviews with some senior esophageal surgeons in Japan .