Activity Report of Open Application Course vol.35
Japan-Korea Research Exchange for Experiencing the Advanced Medical Technology of Wakayama and Studying the Origin of Traditional Japanese Medicine
Report from Wakayama Medical University
Through support from the Sakura Science Exchange Program, Wakayama Medical Univ. (School of Medicine) held a seven-day program from January 23 to 29, 2019 and invited a total of five undergraduate students and graduate students, as well as one faculty member (Professor Ji-Seon Jeong). Participants are engaged in research on pharmaceutical analytical chemistry. They were invited from the University of Science and Technology and Kyung Hee University (College of Medicine) in Korea.
Invitees toured and interacted with staff at the School of Medicine in Wakayama Medical Univ., the Wakayama Medical Univ. Hospital, and the Industrial Technology Center of Wakayama Prefecture, all of which are sites featuring cutting-edge technology. Also, at Zaiseidoyakuhin Co., Ltd. and Dainihon Jochugiku Co., Ltd., invitees learned about initiatives for the production, quality control, and safety of Oriental medicine and herbal medicine, and toured the manufacturing process for mosquito-repelling incense. Together with students from Wakayama Medical Univ., invitees participated in classroom activities on chemistry, interacted with freshman students through presentations, participated in a tea ceremony held by the Tea Ceremony Club, and engaged in academic exchange with the Preventive Medicine Club.
(group photograph with Managing Director Yoshinao Takahashi and company employees)
The invitees traveled from Incheon International Airport (Seoul) to Kansai International Airport. After their arrival, the main schedule of the program started from the second day. First, they visited the Industrial Technology Center of Wakayama Prefecture, where they received a general explanation from Director Hiroki Yotsumoto and an explanation from Pharmaceutical Industry Department regarding R&D utilizing regional resources (Japanese evergreen spicebush, Japanese umbrella pine, etc.) from Wakayama Prefecture.
At Zaiseidoyakuhin Co., Ltd., invitees learned about R&D based on the fundamental corporate principle of “always respecting the position of the other party and viewing matters through their perspective,” as well as the power of Oriental medicine which utilizes natural healing power. In the afternoon, the invitees traveled to Wakayama Medical Univ. By touring facilities such as Pharmaceutical Department, the Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, and the medical helicopter Doctor Heli, the participants obtained an understanding for part of the overall critical care and regional medical treatment in Wakayama Prefecture.
Day 3: Invitees visited the Kishu Plant of Dainihon Jochugiku Co., Ltd., which is the birthplace of mosquito-repellent incense. Participants received a first-hand tour of manufacturing facilities for mosquito-repellent incense. In the afternoon, invitees returned to Wakayama Medical Univ. to give an interactive presentation with freshmen in the School of Medicine, participate in classroom activities on chemistry, and participate in classes on software for analyzing protein structures.
Day 4: On a snowy day, invitees visited Seishu-no-Sato (Hanaoka Seishu Commemorative Park), which was developed to convey the outstanding of achievements of Seishu Hanaoka, a great doctor born in Wakayama. In the afternoon, they visited the manufacturing site of Daranisuke, a stomach medicine that was first created approximately 1,300 years ago by the ascetic monk En no Gyoja and that is said to be the origin of traditional Japanese medicine. They also participated in a Demon Festival (an event related to Setsubun, the Japanese celebration of spring) at a Japanese inn in Yoshinoyama, which is a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing.
Day 5: Invitees returned to Wakayama Medical Univ. to participate in a tea ceremony held by the Tea Ceremony Club and a research exchange meeting held by the Preventive Medicine Club. Invitees exchange opinions regarding a report on activities by the Preventive Medicine Club for medical examinations in Katsuragi Town, Wakayama Prefecture.
Day 6: Invitees experienced actual pathological diagnosis at the Human Pathology Department in the School of Medicine. This experience gave participants a glimpse of the difficulties associated with pathological diagnosis. In the afternoon, invitees participated in an exchange meeting held by the Center for International Relations. Afterwards, they received completion certificates and commemorative gifts from Dean Yasuteru Muragaki of the School of Medicine.
Day 7: Invitees left for Kansai International Airport early in the morning and caught the first afternoon flight back to Korea.
