President’s Message
In the summer of 2017, the Japanese Society for Hygiene became a general foundation corporation. The Japanese Society for Hygiene began as a form of association with “Hygiene, Bacteriology, Infectious Diseases” in 1902 as part of the meeting of the Japan Medical Association. It was declared for the first time as the Japan Association of Health Studies in 1929. The change in name to the Japanese Society for Hygiene occurred in 1949, and the Society has continued to the present day (extracted from the history of our society) “. We have now reached a new era. Academic research continues to highlight health problems pertaining to the environment, people, and society. Additional problems related to nutrition, and the various problems associated with health damage brought about by environmental factors such as public pollution have been the subject of vigorous investigation and discourse, and are supported by epidemiological methods and experimental research. Given the wide range of human activity on earth and in the space environment, from atomic and genetic levels to individuals, micro to macro health analysis and management investigations continue to represent a major area of our academic activities.
As an academic society, academic conferences and publication of institute magazines comprise two main activities.
Regarding the general meeting of academic societies, even with a slight reform, and if the target material and methods different, a discourse relating to a common concept such as environmental medicine / preventive medicine to a general audience should prove fruitful and is something that I would like to strive for. Vigorous discussion at meeting venues should facilitate active mutual exchange and academic developments by members, which in turn should lead to the expansion of broad and deep research areas in the next generation, thereby preparing us to successfully partake in further research on health issues that confront us. We are hoping that people will convene and continue to be active.
With respect to journals, the English magazine EHPM became an open access journal since the beginning of 2017, after “medline” loading and acquisition of Impact Factor. I sincerely hope that it will be more accessible and that international dissemination will be enhanced. We would like to further enhance international dissemination through the acquisition of subsidies from research achievement promotions for the various expenses involved. Additionally, although the Japanese journal “Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi: Jpn. J. Hyg.” is open access using J-STAGE, I would like to work on editing / publishing work that matches the position of the magazine.
We have examined professionals and specialists (as Medical Doctor Board-Certified Physicians for Public Health and Social Medicine) in the former board of directors and prepared them. Especially in the case of specialists, as an employee of the social medicine specialist association, beginning the institution as an association (Japan Board of Public Health and Social Medicine) from April 2017, with the Society deeply involved from the preparatory stage, the driving force will be demonstrated in the future. At the same time, it is important for many researchers engaged in research of environmental medicine / preventive medicine to be recognized as professionals by the Society and citizens of the general public by communication and information dissemination. I would like to clarify the significance and responsibilities of the Society in a good way, while balancing its role with environmental and preventive medicine specialist systems.
Additionally, we have to think about internationalization, measures to increase membership, the management of academic societies that can afford expenses, and collaboration with other academic societies of social medicine. We have many members, council members, delegates, and directors, and we would like to push forward while opening the mind and body and allowing all voices to be heard so that we can improve.
By the way, in 2014 I was chairman of the academic conference, with the subject of the theme at that time being “love to look”. Hygiene is, literally, “the promotion or preservation of health”, or, put another way, “the saving of lives”. But we deal with human beings, the environment, health and other phenomena according to target areas. And I think that another academic field that people in the world wish to fulfill is the achievement of a “natural span of life”, without any health problems. What forms the basis of these wishes or desires? Quite simply, “love”. I believe that with academics for the environment, health, and for all people, “Love” will be fulfilled. Once again, I wish to contribute to the advancement of academia in the area of hygiene by reinforcing the “love to look” perspective with everyone, including all participating members. It is with great humility that I am thinking once more of taking office as president.
If there is love that loves people, it is this kind of medical science, and I would like to deliver health to people from around the world from our achievements.
TAKEMI OTSUKI
President of the Japanese Society for Hygiene
| AKIO KOIZUMI -President of the Japanese Society for Hygiene (2015.3-2018.3) |
| President’s Message |