suppotersVisiting researchers
Introduction of Visiting researchers
Mai Fujii

Degree | (Licensed from Japan) Registered Nurse, Public Health Nurse, School Nurse type 1, Public Health administrator type 1, Ph.D in Health Science |
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Areas of interest in global health | Global aging, Community health, Health insurance system, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) |
Other areas of interest | Gerontology |
Favorite things | Composition, Nap taking, fishing |
Personal History
Graduated from School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of the Ryukyus. I was working as a registered nurse in Okinawa and at the same time, I took the night course of graduate school on U.S. military base in Okinawa and obtained the master’s degree from Michigan State University. From the following year of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, I started working as a public health nurse in the health center of Hyogo prefecture. I then had international relocation to Malaysia and there I obtained the second master’s degree. For a decade since then, various experiences I had in my career such as working as a health advisor, a JICA health administrator, or a university faculty. In 2005, I became the candidate for Junior Professional Officer to work in the United Nations and relevant organizations. In 2007, work at WHO headquarters (Switzerland) started followed by WHO South- East Regional office (SEARO) in 2013 (India). From 2015, belonged to a consulting company and as an International Cooperation Agency (JICA) expert, I worked on 5 projects (health survey in Lao PDR, peacebuilding in Sudan, hospital construction in Lao PDR, activity evaluation for the Japan Disaster Relief Team (JDR) with site visits for Nepal (Great earthquake) and Philippines (Cyclone). From 2019, I provided training support for home health care nurse practicum at the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care, Keio University and also worked for center for Baby Science, Doshisha University. From 2021, I work for the Asia-Europe Foundation(ASEF)whose headquarters is in Singapore; ASEF's members: 30 European countries, 21 Asian countries, and 2 regional organizations (the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat). A large-scale project for COVID19 pandemic prevention is ongoing and I am engaging in emergency transportation of goods to the countries.
Message
Studying at the University of the Ryukyus was very much valuable and also became the starting point of my career life. From a girls' high school in the countryside to the “Ryudai”, the bigger world in a different prefecture, this experience made my perspective broadened. I grew up there and now working globally. I never expected to be so, I make a rule to enjoy myself when working and hoping that all the international aid would reach for the place and people with the real needs. Please contact me if you like: @MaiFujii (Twitter)
Hidemi Todoriki
Degree | Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo, Japan |
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Field of study | Public Health, Epidemiology |
Academic Appointments | 1978-1984 National Institute of Neuroscience National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo 1984-2016 University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine, Okinawa 2016-2021 The Open University of Japan (Okinawa Study Center), Okinawa |
Other areas of interest |
Ecological Study of 'Yambaru' Forest in Northern Area, Okinawa |
Personal history
My Research
I have been broadly interested in the health of human populations and the effects of diet/nutrition on health since I was a faculty at the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. My research focuses on the prevention of obesity and cardiovascular disease (hypertension) by traditional Okinawan diet and lifestyle in epidemiological studies, mainly RCT intervention studies. Over the past 20 years, our research has started with epidemiological studies of longevity and dietary effects on the Okinawan oldest old, followed by comparative studies of hypertension and obesity of traditional Okinawan diet on Japanese and Americans (Chample Study).
In recent years, I have been conducting intervention studies focusing on the relationship between health and "social capital," i.e., the impact of macro level of social determinants of health(e.g., income/educational inequality, social cohesion) of nutrition education intervention trial in the meso level (i.e, family and school) and the individual level (obesity, nutrition, social psychological risk).
In addition, as a side work, I am conducting a study on the impact of nutrition and epidemiological transition on health ( ex. obesity) in Post-war Okinawa. As a byproduct of this research, I have constructed a database of GHQ/USCAR documents from the U.S. administration era, and have been able to clarify part of the decision-making process for public health policy under the U.S. occupation.
Most of the above research has been conducted as a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research project by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.
My Graduate and Undergraduate Years
During my undergraduate years, I spent almost a third of the year in the bush mountains, and mountain-skiing in the winter, which may have provided the groundwork for my public health research in the community.
When I was in graduate school, I earned my degree in a completely different field (My doctor thesis was entitled "Molecular spectroscopic studies of hydrogen bonding in nucleic acids").
Message
My laboratory is located on the third floor of the Integrated Research Building ("Sousei-ken") at Semmbaru Campus, so please come and visit my office (todoriki@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp).
For more information, please visit the following URL.
https://researchmap.jp/read0017909
Rie Takeuchi
Degree | Medical radiological technologist, PhD in Tropical Medicine |
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Areas of interest in global health | Epidemiology of malaria, Parasite control, School health, Human behaviour and infectious diseases |
Other areas of interest | Environmental DNA and infectious diseases, Behavioural sciense, Mathematical modelling, Spatial analysis |
Favorite things | Living in developping countries, Spending time at home |
Personal History
After working for six and a half years in a general hospital as a medical radiological technologist, overseas wandering has begun. I engaged in international cooperation, research or study in China, Senegal, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Ghana, Benin, Niger, Kenya, Philippines and/or Laos. This time, I will make a full-scal step into academic field at the University of the Ryukyus.
Education
Aug. 2009 : Doctor of Philosophy in Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand
Work Experience (Research related)
Apr. 2021-
JICA Special Advisor/Visiting Researcher, Department of Global Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, University of the Ryukyus.
Apr. 2020-Mar. 2021:
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Global Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, University of the Ryukyus.
Apr. 2018-Mar. 2019: Research Coordinator
Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University (Japan), Mbita Sub-county, Homa Bay County, Kenya
Apr. 2014-Mar. 2018: Assistant Professor
Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University (Japan), Mbita Sub-county, Homa Bay County, Kenya
Apr. 2011-Mar. 2012 : Postdoctoral Researcher
Transdisciplinary Research Organization for Subtropics and Island Studies, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
Other Work Experiences
Oct. 2012-Feb. 2013 : Expert on school health
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University
Supporting Health from School to Community Project, Mbita Sub County, Homa Bay County, Kenya
Apr. 2008-Sep. 2008 : Expert on training management/school health
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
West African Centre for International Parasite Control (WACIPAC) Project, Ghana/Benin
May 2003-Apr. 2004 : Expert on radiology
Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA)
Peace Building Project through Health, Sri Lanka
Nov. 2001-Jan. 2003 : Expert on radiology
Tokushima International Cooperation (TICO)
X-ray Basic Unit Improvement Project, Zambia
Jan. 1999-Apr. 2001 : Japan overseas cooperation volunteers (JOCV)
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Department of Radiology, Kaolack Regional Hospital, Senegal
Oct. 1999-Jan. 1998 : Medical radiologist
Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, China, Work Supervised by Prof. Xigui Luo
Apr. 1990-Sep. 1996 : Medical radiologist
Department of Radiology and Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nippon Kokan Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
Message
Let's enjoy everything! Let's try to do research that is fun and useful for everyone, both the researchers and participants.
Akihiro Nishio
Degree | MD& PhD, Psychiatrist, Industrial doctor, Specialist of Social medicine |
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Areas of interest in global health | Global Mental Health, Public Mental Health, School Mental Health |
Other areas of interest | Hikikomori (Social withdrawal) |
Favorite things | Tennis |
Personal History
After graduating from Ehime University School of Medicine, I joined in the psychiatry department of Gifu University and studied in France after completing my resident doctor. In France, after a year of experience as a psychiatrist at a University hospital in Marseille, I moved to the doctoral program at the Faculty of Psychoanalysis, Paris Diderot University, where I studied French psychoanalysis. After returning to Japan, while conducting general psychiatry clinical practice, I was translating books on French psychoanalysis into Japanese. However, my interest gradually shifted from individual psychotherapy to mental health, and I enrolled in the doctoral course at the Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University. That is the beginning of my current research interest. I have a lot of research projects in Southeast Asia and African countries to promote community mental health and school mental health including education for children with disabilities in Southeast Asia.
Apr.2021- Visiting Professor at Department of Global Health, University of the Ryukyus
Know more
https://researchmap.jp/nishioakio/research_experience
Message
Quite few people are interested in mental health in many parts of the countries. Join me to this field. It’s so vast and interesting!