Participation in the health conference “Living Longer, Living Well: Innovations for Healthy Ageing” at the Czech Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

June 24, 2025

On June 24, 2025, a health conference entitled “Living Longer, Living Well: Innovations for Healthy Ageing” was held at the Czech Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Professor Kabayama from the division of Health Sciences at our university was invited as a speaker, and six graduate students, five faculty members, and three staff members participated at the venue as special invited guests.

This conference was co-hosted by the Czechia government and Masaryk University, and aimed to discuss advanced research and practice for the realization of Healthy Ageing.

The conference began with a keynote speech by Professor Jakub Hlávka of Masaryk University entitled "Living Longer, Living Well: Innovations for Healthy Ageing." He explained the difference in life expectancy between the Czechia and Japan, comparing various background factors. Next, Professor Mai Kabayama of the University of Osaka, Professor Maho Haseda of Kyoto University, and Professor Emi Rosenberg of the WHO Kobe Center introduced research and practice on Healthy Ageing from the perspective of their respective fields of expertise.

Professor Kabayama introduced the current situation of rapid population aging in Japan, including ongoing research in Nose Town, Osaka Prefecture. She emphasized that achieving healthy ageing requires not only improvements in medical and nursing care, but also the promotion of social connectedness.

In the panel discussion session, a lively debate took place from the perspectives of industry, government, and academia. One particularly striking comment came from a member of the audience — a local government administrative staff member from Nose Town. Referring to the current state of nursing care in mountainous areas, he expressed his strong determination by stating, “In order to achieve healthy longevity, it is important for local governments to seriously face the realities on the ground and build a sustainable support system.” Ms. Yuka Fukada, a graduate student of the University of Osaka, also explained that Healthy Ageing includes improving dignity and quality of life (QOL) in the final stages of life, as well as encompassing the concept of end-of-life care. In addition, a member of the audience expressed the view that “intervention is necessary not only after one becomes elderly, but also starting from the younger generation,” emphasizing the importance of a life course approach. Professor Yasuyuki Gondo, a centenarian research expert of the University of Osaka, posed a fundamental question: “Given that there are biological limits to human lifespan, to what extent should we researchers aim for Healthy Ageing?” This sparked a very heated discussion. Ms. Shio Sugita, division manager of the Community-based Integrated Care Promotion Division at the Kinki Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare, introduced best practices in community-building in the context of an aging society from the Kansai region. These fascinating and advanced initiatives were shared with researchers from the Czechia. Hankyu Hanshin Holdings introduced various intervention cases aimed at reaching a broader audience. It was impressive to see the company’s flexible approach to promoting Healthy Ageing by continuously organizing a wide variety of events that local residents can enjoy participating in, which encourages behavioral changes in people.

The event was conducted in a very warm and welcoming atmosphere from start to finish. During breaks and between sessions, participants were often seen chatting naturally with one another, discussing each other’s research and sharing their awareness of various issues.

This conference provided a valuable opportunity for every participant—regardless of country, region, occupation, or field of expertise—to reflect on and consider together the question: “What is Healthy Ageing?” We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the organizers and all participants for making this meaningful event possible.

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The 32nd Global Seminar by Foreign Researcher at Takatsuki High school

17 June 2025

My name is Alice Young. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and am currently a Fulbright Fellow researching in Professor Kamide’s laboratory. As I start this report, I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to Takatsuki highschool for inviting me to participate in such a wonderful event emphasizing global cultural sharing, and an additional thank you to Dr. Kamide for suggesting I participate.

On 17 June 2025, I was honored to be invited as a lecturer at Takatsuki High School. The purpose of my visit was to share my experiences in researching in Japan, as well as offer a brief look into the Emergency medical system in America. My research focus in Japan has been on Advanced Directives, which are documents used to specify care required for patients in the future, and often regard end-of-life decisions for patients. As such, my research can be a very difficult topic to discuss, but I was pleased to find all of the students very receptive to participating in my talk. Accompanied by Professor Kobayashi, I arrived at around 10:30 a.m. and received a brief introduction about the history of the school from Mr. Kudo, Principal of Takatsuki High School.

After a brief conversation, we proceeded to the meeting room where students from different grades were eagerly waiting. I presented to the students about the aforementioned topics, before holding a very enjoyable question and answer session with the students. My presentation lasted for around 30 minutes, and the students questions almost all pertained to my research. The students were very curious about advanced directives, and I took great joy in seeing so many youth passionate about care for the elderly. These students asked questions such as, “Why do you think older people don’t want to use advanced directives,” and, “Why do more Americans know about advanced directives than Japanese people?” Additionally, the students were curious about language learning, and I was blown away by their confident command of English.

I was very pleased to then be offered a tour of the school by Mr.Yokoyama, who showed me the classrooms, as well as the global learning center. In the center, I was thrilled to see that students have the opportunity to visit both the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as to see many tokens from former foreign visitors. Lastly, we visited the library, which was absolutely beautiful, and allowed me to observe students working hard in class.

Overall, the visit was incredible, and I am very touched to have been included in such an important event. I hope that the students continue to work hard in the future, and I hope to continue to be a network for students in Japan seeking a more global perspective.

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Participation in the Exhibition and Experience Booth for the Seal-Type Mental Commitment Robot “PARO” at EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

May 4th – 10th, 2025

From May 4th to 10th, 2025, a total of approximately 50 participants—including undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty members from the School of Health Sciences, The University of Osaka —volunteered at the exhibition and experience booth for the seal-type mental commitment robot “PARO,” presented by Dr. Shibata of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. This booth was part of the exhibit entitled “Future Field Clinics: Zero-Emission Disaster Medicine”, organized by the Disaster Nursing Research Institute of the Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing, and held at the Gallery WEST of EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

In Japan, “PARO” has been selected as a designated device under the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s priority initiative in care technology, particularly in the area of “support for daily life and care of individuals with dementia.” It is utilized in dementia care and has been recognized for its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of both “dementia” and “delirium”. Internationally, including in the United States, Europe, and Asia—where healthcare and welfare systems differ—PARO is classified as a medical device supported by evidence for its non-pharmacological therapeutic benefits. It is used in over 50 countries worldwide, including in the treatment and care of PTSD among military veterans and for mental health support in pediatric intensive care settings.

The volunteer staff received direct instruction from Dr. Shibata, the developer of PARO, and assisted visitors by providing explanations and facilitating hands-on experiences with the robot. The booth attracted a wide range of visitors of various age groups, from children to the elderly, both from Japan and abroad. Many visitors held PARO, gently stroked its back, and engaged with it, expressing delight and keen interest, and were naturally warm smiling. Moreover, the volunteers themselves found the experience deeply comforting and fulfilling, making their participation in the EXPO a meaningful and memorable occasion filled with positive interactions and smiles.

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  EXPO visitors experiencing the “PARO” experience.
  (All photos courtesy of National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.)

Nursing Internship Program for The University of Hong Kong students

April 21st – May 16th, 2025

Four third-year nursing students from the University of Hong Kong (UHK) participated in a three-week internship program at our university from April 21 (Mon) to May 16 (Fri), 2025. The UHK and our department signed an MOU in 2018, and since then, many faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students from UOsaka have participated in events such as the Hong Kong International Nursing Forum and Inbound students exchange programs organized by the UHK, continuing academic exchange.

The internship program was led by faculty members and graduate students from all areas of Integrated Health Nursing Science. A three-week program was designed to allow participants to learn about the characteristics of each area. On the final day, a session was held to share insights gained during the internship. All trainees’ presentations were excellent, comparing what was learned about Japanese healthcare, nursing, and public health services with examples from Hong Kong.

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  Greeting from the Dean

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  Introduction of the UHK by the trainees

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  Group photo after Opening Ceremony

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  Program announcement on signage

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A seminar on maternal and child health was held with our graduate students. They gave presentations on “Japan's Perinatal Healthcare & Women's Health System” and “Perinatal Mental Health in Japan.”

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• The trainees participated in lectures and seminars for the graduate public health nurse course and interacted with our graduate students.
• They visited the home of an ALS patient and observed home rehabilitation services. They learned about the life of a patient undergoing treatment at home while on a ventilator, and about a method of communicating with the patient by reading her mouth movements.
• Accompanied a professor on a home visit to patients receiving home care and on a resident of a paid nursing home for care

• Students visited the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution to learn about real-life disaster situations, and then actively engaged in discussions on disaster prevention, risk reduction, and nursing during disasters.
• Students joined a local gathering of older people and did exercises together, gaining insight into efforts for frailty prevention and the daily lives of them. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience Japan’s beautiful rural landscape as well!

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A group photo taken at the end of the Universal Design workshop with wheelchair users. It captures the sense of accomplishment after three hours of discussion.

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Participants are listening attentively as wheelchair users share their personal experiences of the challenges they've faced in daily life. The speaker is a graduate of our university.

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A scene from the group presentations during the Universal Design workshop held in collaboration with wheelchair users.

The trainees gave excellent presentations on the topics of interest to each individual, reflecting what they learned through this Program.

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Mini-Workshop on USM-UOsaka Research Collaboration

On April 11, 2025, a workshop on research collaboration between Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and The University of Osaka was held on the 3rd floor of Centerace at the Suita Campus. Currently, the School of Health Sciences offers the "Frontiers in Radiation Therapy and Medical Imaging Technology" program for graduate and undergraduate students from ASEAN countries as part of the Osaka University International Certificate Program (OUICP). At the workshop, Associate Professor Kazumasa Minami, who is in charge of promoting international exchange at the School of Health Sciences, introduced the department's international initiatives and detailed the offered programs. The event was attended by four representatives from USM, including the President and Vice President, and twelve participants from Osaka University. The workshop featured lively discussions and active exchange of ideas.

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  The group photo taken after the workshop

Visit from Xinxiang Medical University to the School of Health Sciences

On April 7, 2025, a delegation of five members from Xinxiang Medical University in China, including the university president and the director of its affiliated hospital, visited the School of Health Sciences. Xinxiang Medical University ranks among the top 30 universities in China. It began as a nursing school and has since expanded to include five affiliated hospitals and twenty associated hospitals. The university is highly regarded as a medical research institution, both in terms of hospital and academic evaluations.

As this was their first visit, Professor Ishida, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, and the International Exchange Center provided an introduction to Osaka University. Xinxiang Medical University was also introduced, and both sides engaged in a lively exchange of ideas about potential future collaborations between the two universities.

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  Commemorative Group Photo