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