Year 2023
The 9th International Summer Program (ISP2023), planned and prepared by the WG chaired by Prof. Kenji Fueki (Dept. of Masticatory Function and Health Science) was held for four days from Tuesday through Friday, August 1 to 4, 2023.
This ninth year of the program focused on dentistry, inviting 19 students and young researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) partner universities in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the U.K., Vietnam, and Taiwan. During this event, various programs were offered in order to promote and enhance our international relationships.
Tuesday, August 1: Orientation, Symposium, Welcome Party
The first day of the program started off with an orientation moderated by Professor Sachiko Iseki (Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology and Oral Histology), followed by opening remarks by WG Director Professor Fueki, including an overview of ISP2023, introduction of TMDU and the School of Dentistry, guidance on risk management during the stay, and self-introduction by the ISP participants.
Following the orientation, the ISP2023 International Symposium was held in a hybrid format, with over 200 participants including online participants from partner universities overseas. Special lecturers included Professor Kenji Wakabayashi (Department of Intensive Care Medicine), and Emeritus Professor Junji Tagami, followed by general lectures on dental research at TMDU.
In the evening, a welcome party was held at TMDU’s Medical Alumni Association, with opening remarks by Professor Manabu Kanazawa (Deputy Director of the Integrated International Program), and a toast by Emeritus Professor Junji Tagami, followed by the participation of international students as well as TUFS faculty members, who were able to deepen exchange with ISP participants over a rich variety of dishes. In closing, Emeritus Professor Ikuko Morio, who had been leading the university's international exchange activities since the days of the International Center until last year, gave a speech. Deputy Director Kanazawa and Emeritus Professor Morio were dressed in Japanese traditional attire, and many ISP participants were also dressed in their traditional costumes, creating an elegant but relaxed atmosphere and bringing the participants closer together than they were in the morning.
Wednesday, August 2: Poster Session, Exchange Meeting, Campus/Hospital Tour, and Lab/Clinic Visit
On Day 2, a poster session was held in the morning with a total of 38 participants (19 ISP participants and 19 students from TMDU), where they presented their research and actively, exchanged opinions.
After the poster session, an exchange meeting was held, where three international dental students in the doctoral course gave presentations on their research and study life at TMDU, followed by an introduction to the Japanese Government Scholarship from the International Exchange Division, which drew much interest from the participants. Afterward, during lunch, ISP participants gave presentations on their respective affiliated universities, 12 in all.
In the afternoon, the participants visited the Dental Museum, the Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Dentistry, Real Mode Studio, and SIMROID (patient simulator) as part of the campus hospital tour. This was followed by a Laboratory/Clinic Visit to see the laboratories and departments of the dental school, providing a valuable opportunity to hear directly from faculty and graduate students about the activities and practices of their respective specialties. Participants commented that they especially enjoyed visiting the Museum of Dentistry, where they learned about the history of tooth blackening and saw the robot (SIMROID) that looks just like a human being.
Thursday, August 3: Ochanomizu Tour, Lab/Clinic Visit
On Day 3, participants visited Morita Corporation, GC Corporation, and Origamikaikan as off-campus activities. The participants were so absorbed in learning about the equipment of these companies, manufacturers of cutting-edge products in terms of both design and function, that they looked like they were disappointed it was over. At the Origami Kaikan, they enjoyed the origami demonstration by Director Kobayashi as if they were watching a magic show. After lunch at an off-campus restaurant, clinical rotation and laboratory visits continued from the second day, and students toured different departments and laboratories than the first day.
Friday, August 4: JAXA Guided Tour, Tokuyama Dental Tsukuba Laboratory Tour, Farwell Party
In the early morning of the last day, the participants traveled to the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center for a guided tour, followed by a visit to Tokuyama Dental Laboratory.
At the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center, they visited the National Closed Environment Adaptive Training Facility and the Low-Pressure Adaptive Training Facility, which are used for training astronauts, etc., and also observed the operation control room of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" on the International Space Station (ISS) through a glass window. At Tokuyama Dental, the ISP participants had the opportunity to handle actual dental materials, listen to a talk on product development and learn about the process of developing dental materials that they have used in their own countries.
In the evening, a farewell party was held at the M&D Tower, where Prof. Tetsuya Yoda, Dean of Faculty of Dentistry presented certificates of participation to the 19 participants.
During the ceremony, the TMDU student acapella circle "tic tac♪" sang several songs, and a slideshow of the four days' activities was shown, followed by a very active chatting time, indicating that the participants enjoyed the program.
At the farewell party filled with laughter, the ISP participants deepened their exchanges regardless of their country of origin or university affiliations. Everyone seemed reluctant to part with each other at the end of the program.
This year’s ISP2023, the first in four years since 2019, due to the Corona pandemic, was a great opportunity for international exchange not only for the participants but also for TMDU's students, faculty, and staff.
List of Campus/Hospital Tour Cooperating Partners:
Department of Educational Media Development, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Dentistry, Dental Laboratory, The Dental Museum
List of Laboratory Visit Cooperating Partners:
Masticatory Function and Health Science, Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Department of Masticatory Function and Health Science, Department of Cariology and Operative Dentistry, Department of Oral Pathology, Department of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Infection, and Host Response, Department of Dysphagia Rehabilitation, Department of Regenerative and Reconstructive Dentistry, Department of Psychosomatic Dentistry, Department of Molecular Immunology, Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology and Oral Histology, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry / Special Needs Dentistry, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics
This ninth year of the program focused on dentistry, inviting 19 students and young researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) partner universities in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the U.K., Vietnam, and Taiwan. During this event, various programs were offered in order to promote and enhance our international relationships.
Tuesday, August 1: Orientation, Symposium, Welcome Party
The first day of the program started off with an orientation moderated by Professor Sachiko Iseki (Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology and Oral Histology), followed by opening remarks by WG Director Professor Fueki, including an overview of ISP2023, introduction of TMDU and the School of Dentistry, guidance on risk management during the stay, and self-introduction by the ISP participants.
Following the orientation, the ISP2023 International Symposium was held in a hybrid format, with over 200 participants including online participants from partner universities overseas. Special lecturers included Professor Kenji Wakabayashi (Department of Intensive Care Medicine), and Emeritus Professor Junji Tagami, followed by general lectures on dental research at TMDU.
In the evening, a welcome party was held at TMDU’s Medical Alumni Association, with opening remarks by Professor Manabu Kanazawa (Deputy Director of the Integrated International Program), and a toast by Emeritus Professor Junji Tagami, followed by the participation of international students as well as TUFS faculty members, who were able to deepen exchange with ISP participants over a rich variety of dishes. In closing, Emeritus Professor Ikuko Morio, who had been leading the university's international exchange activities since the days of the International Center until last year, gave a speech. Deputy Director Kanazawa and Emeritus Professor Morio were dressed in Japanese traditional attire, and many ISP participants were also dressed in their traditional costumes, creating an elegant but relaxed atmosphere and bringing the participants closer together than they were in the morning.
Wednesday, August 2: Poster Session, Exchange Meeting, Campus/Hospital Tour, and Lab/Clinic Visit
On Day 2, a poster session was held in the morning with a total of 38 participants (19 ISP participants and 19 students from TMDU), where they presented their research and actively, exchanged opinions.
After the poster session, an exchange meeting was held, where three international dental students in the doctoral course gave presentations on their research and study life at TMDU, followed by an introduction to the Japanese Government Scholarship from the International Exchange Division, which drew much interest from the participants. Afterward, during lunch, ISP participants gave presentations on their respective affiliated universities, 12 in all.
In the afternoon, the participants visited the Dental Museum, the Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Dentistry, Real Mode Studio, and SIMROID (patient simulator) as part of the campus hospital tour. This was followed by a Laboratory/Clinic Visit to see the laboratories and departments of the dental school, providing a valuable opportunity to hear directly from faculty and graduate students about the activities and practices of their respective specialties. Participants commented that they especially enjoyed visiting the Museum of Dentistry, where they learned about the history of tooth blackening and saw the robot (SIMROID) that looks just like a human being.
Thursday, August 3: Ochanomizu Tour, Lab/Clinic Visit
On Day 3, participants visited Morita Corporation, GC Corporation, and Origamikaikan as off-campus activities. The participants were so absorbed in learning about the equipment of these companies, manufacturers of cutting-edge products in terms of both design and function, that they looked like they were disappointed it was over. At the Origami Kaikan, they enjoyed the origami demonstration by Director Kobayashi as if they were watching a magic show. After lunch at an off-campus restaurant, clinical rotation and laboratory visits continued from the second day, and students toured different departments and laboratories than the first day.
Friday, August 4: JAXA Guided Tour, Tokuyama Dental Tsukuba Laboratory Tour, Farwell Party
In the early morning of the last day, the participants traveled to the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center for a guided tour, followed by a visit to Tokuyama Dental Laboratory.
At the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center, they visited the National Closed Environment Adaptive Training Facility and the Low-Pressure Adaptive Training Facility, which are used for training astronauts, etc., and also observed the operation control room of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" on the International Space Station (ISS) through a glass window. At Tokuyama Dental, the ISP participants had the opportunity to handle actual dental materials, listen to a talk on product development and learn about the process of developing dental materials that they have used in their own countries.
In the evening, a farewell party was held at the M&D Tower, where Prof. Tetsuya Yoda, Dean of Faculty of Dentistry presented certificates of participation to the 19 participants.
During the ceremony, the TMDU student acapella circle "tic tac♪" sang several songs, and a slideshow of the four days' activities was shown, followed by a very active chatting time, indicating that the participants enjoyed the program.
At the farewell party filled with laughter, the ISP participants deepened their exchanges regardless of their country of origin or university affiliations. Everyone seemed reluctant to part with each other at the end of the program.
This year’s ISP2023, the first in four years since 2019, due to the Corona pandemic, was a great opportunity for international exchange not only for the participants but also for TMDU's students, faculty, and staff.
List of Campus/Hospital Tour Cooperating Partners:
Department of Educational Media Development, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Dentistry, Dental Laboratory, The Dental Museum
List of Laboratory Visit Cooperating Partners:
Masticatory Function and Health Science, Department of Maxillofacial Orthognathics, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Department of Masticatory Function and Health Science, Department of Cariology and Operative Dentistry, Department of Oral Pathology, Department of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Infection, and Host Response, Department of Dysphagia Rehabilitation, Department of Regenerative and Reconstructive Dentistry, Department of Psychosomatic Dentistry, Department of Molecular Immunology, Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology and Oral Histology, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry / Special Needs Dentistry, Department of Advanced Prosthodontics
Orientation
Welcome party Opening remarks by Prof. Manabu KANAZAWA
Welcome party Toast by Emeritus Professor Junji TAGAMI
Welcome party Closing remarks by Emeritus Professor Ikuko MORIO
Poster Session
Exchange meeting
Campus/Hospital tour, Lab/Clinic visit
Visit to Morita Corporation
Visit to GC Corporation
Demonstration at Origami Kaikan
Visit to JAXA Tsukuba Space Center
Visit to Tokuyama Dental Corporation
Farewell Party