Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Lecture by Dr. Yamamoto Asagiri Kogen Clinic Director and House of Councilors member Seiko Hashimoto
On August 20th, a “Community Enrichment Forum aiming for social model through Integrated Medicine” was held at a public facility in Numazu City, and participants from nearby local governments, including Takaaki Katsumata, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Numazu Mayor Hideichi Saishige, as well as members of various levels, participated. Approximately 120 people, including government officials and citizens, participated. Integrative medicine includes a medical model in hospitals and clinics in which patients are treated in collaboration with other professions in order to treat diseases, and a medical model in which patients in hospitals and clinics work together with other professions to treat diseases. There is a social model that aims to improve the quality of life in the community, and lectures were given by Dr. Ryutaka Yamamoto, director of Asagiri Kogen Clinic, and Seiko Hashimoto, member of the House of Councilors, chairperson of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Parliamentary Federation for Integrative Medicine Promotion, who work on both.
Director Yamamoto gave a lecture titled “Integrative Medicine as Planetary Health”. Introducing the idea of planetary health, which states that achieving good health requires not only individual efforts but also a healthy environment, and that human health is inseparable from the health of the earth. While touching on the LDP Legislators Alliance on Promoting Integrative Medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil’s concept of integrative medicine, and the works of Asagiri Kogen Clinic, he emphasized the importance of integrative medicine in a broad sense, which incorporates retreats that provide a break from everyday life.
House of Councilors member Seiko Hashimoto gave a lecture on “Social development through the creation of a healthy mind and body.” She explained that there are more opportunities to give lectures on integrative medicine at medical universities and academic conferences. She emphasized that society’s interest in integrative medicine is steadily increasing. She talked further about integrative medical care while touching on the history of her overcoming illnesses such as chronic nephritis through various types of care and participating in the Olympics. She also shared about the work of Nanbu Town in Tottori Prefecture, which has overcome the town’s social HIKIKOMORI withdrawal problem by reviving its community. She touched on works for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and introduced the need for health promotion through sports. Once again she expressed her determination to create a vibrant community.
Numazu Mayor Saishige introduced the city’s work on community enrichment using sports and frailty countermeasures. Shizuo Yamada, president of the 27th Academic Conference of The Society for Integrative Medicine Japan and a specially appointed professor at Shizuoka Prefectural University, spoke about the 27th Academic Conference of the Japanese Society of Integrative Medicine, which will be held in Shizuoka City in December.
“I learned that strengthening the community is the key to living a prosperous life in a super-aging society, and I realized that we must continue to improve it”, said a local lawmaker. “I often had doubts about current medical care, but… I am glad that the number of medical professionals who have the idea of planetary health is increasing.” (Nurse). “I understand the necessity of integrative medicine. The important thing is how to take action. I will tell the people around me.” (Citizen).
Shizuoka Prefecture active listening volunteers Network is an organization that works to train gatekeepers (active listening volunteers), promote integrated medicine, and promote nutritional and aesthetic education. MOA members and those certified in the Okada Health and Wellness Program are also participating, and we are actively in cooperation with each local government to create a community enrichment that is healthy both physically and mentally.
Sponsored by NPO Shizuoka Prefecture active listening volunteers Network, supported by Numazu City, Fuji City, Fujinomiya City
