Congress in Kobe to Discuss Psychosomatic Medicine
The opening ceremony of the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine (WCPM) was held at Kobe Portopia Hotel.
The congress, sponsored by the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine and the Science Council of Japan, has as it's theme "Scientific Approaches to the Mind and Body - from Japan to the World."
The Opening Ceremony was graced with the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan and attended by 800 participants from around the world.
The Opening Speech was given by Dr. Chiharu Kubo, organizing committee co-chairman followed by Dr. Tomifusa Kuboki, the other co-chairperson, and congratulatory messages from the sponsor of this congress as well as a representative of the international parent body, Dr. Yoshihide Nakai and Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa, president of the Science Council of Japan., followed by Dr. George Christodoulou, President of the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine.
His Majesty the Emperor then honored the audience with his remarks.
He was followed by messages from Mr. Yasufumi Tanahashi, Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy; Mr. Nariaki Nakayama, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and last, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan.
In closing, Mr. Toshizo Ido, Hyogo Prefectural Governor; Mr. Tatsuo Yada, Mayor of Kobe; and Dr. Fumimaro Takaku, President of the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences.
The Remarks by His Majesty the Emperor
It is a great pleasure to see the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine being held in Kobe, bringing together so many participants from Japan and the rest of the world.
It was in 1971 in Mexico that the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine met for the first time; six years later, the fourth meeting was held in Kyoto under the theme: "Psychosomatic Medicine: a Core Approach to Clinical Medicine - Education, Practice, Research and Therapy."
Since then, twenty-eight years have passed, and the congress is now being held again in Japan.
Through those years, the concept of psychosomatic medicine, characterized by its comprehensive approaches to those suffering from diseases in terms of total symptoms of the mind and body, seeking ways of holistic care, has expanded to other fields of medical science and care.
Today, it is emphasised as a common concept in every department of clinical medicine.
Recently, medical science and care have achieved rapid progress with the development of science and technology in a variety of ways.
They have differentiated into many specialized fields, and physicians are expected to have a more profound knowledge of each of those fields.
At the same time, it is extremely important for them to maintain a holistic perspective on patients while deeply occupied with each speciality.
Physicians are also keenly expected to share and understand individual patients' worries and sufferings through communication from the heart, in addition to treating ailments themselves.
I would therefore like to express my deep respect for the constant efforts of physicians who engage themselves in daily practices while meeting these severe demands.
Today, the changes in our society brought by such factors as the progress of science and technology or aging have created varied environments potentially harmful to people's mental and physical health.
Also, the city of Kobe was gravely damaged by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that took the lives of more than six thousand people ten years ago, and I hear there are still many victims suffering from psychosomatic after-effects. Under these circumstances, with researchers engaged in psychosomatic medicine gathered here in Kobe from around the world to take part in various discussions based on new information, I expect this congress to prove truly significant not only for the people in this region but also for those in the whole of Japan as well as the world.
Finally, I would like to close my remarks by expressing my hope that this meeting will yield many fruitful results and contribute to the progress of medical science and people's happiness in the entire world.
The New and Most Interesting Sessions
By Dr. Tomifusa Kuboki, Co-Chairman of the 18th WCPM
Your Majesties the Emperor and Empress, members of the Organizing Committee, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Today it is our great honor to have Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress at the Opening Ceremony of the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 18th WCPM, it is also my great pleasure to express my sincere welcome to all of you.
The meeting will include plenary session, symposia, workshops, oral presentations, and posters.
The scientific and educational areas of the Congress cover current areas of particular interest in Psychosomatic Medicine, such as: mechanism of interactions of mind and body on psychosomatic diseases, psychoneuroimmunology, stress science and its evaluation, basic study and treatment of eating disorder, panic disorder, cancer and psychooncology, women's health, age, and gender interactions with health and disease, sexual disfunction, palliative care, bioethics, consultation and liaison psychosomatic medicine, somnology, primary care and psychosomatic medicine, cardiovascular disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, chronic pain disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, organ transplantation, somatization, doctor-patient relationship and other clinical problems.
You may not know that Japan is the country with the largest number of society members of psychosomatic medicine associations in the world. Japanese culture is classically oriented to mind-body interactions.
The Japanese Psychosomatic Society is very active.
We provide you with the newest and most interesting scientific sessions on psychosomatic medicine.
We are very much delighted that this traditional congress is held, with the attendance of about 1,200 scientists from almost 50 countries, for the second time in Japan, since the one in Kyoto by professor Ikemi and Ishikawa in 1977.
Before closing my welcome address, I sincerely wish for the great success of the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine in Kobe.
To Search in New, Creative Directions
By Dr. Chiharu Kubo, Co-Chairman of the 18th WCPM
Your Majesties the Emperor and Empress, members of the Organizing Committee, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great privilege for me to participate in the opening ceremony of the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine.
I would like to extend my warmest welcome to everyone present and to express my deepest appreciation to the Conference Secretariat and to the many others who were instrumental in bringing this Conference into reality.
This is the second time for the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine to be held in Japan, following the 4th Congress held in Kyoto in 1977.
It is my hope that the presentations and discussion of the most current research into Psychosomatic Medicine and its related fields will provide the impetus to drive our research to a higher level and inspire us to search in new, creative directions.
I also hope that this, the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine, will strengthen the bonds of personal friendship among the many participants from the various parts of the world represented here.
Welcome to Japan. ...
Welcome to Kobe. ...
Welcome to the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine.
Greetings, Addresses and Messages by Distinguished Guests
Primary Importance
By Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa, President of the Science Council of Japan
On January 17, 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake ravaged Kobe killing roughly 6,000 people.
In the past 10 years, psychosomatic medicine made a great contribution helping victims to recover from the earthquake and restore Kobe.
It is our privilege to host the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine here in Kobe and to welcome participants from all over the world.
Science Council of Japan, which was founded in 1949, as a special agency under the jurisdiction of the prime minister's office, represents Japanese scientists of all fields, deliberates on important scientific matters and assumes social responsibilities of the Japanese science community.
The Council is active in promoting international scientific exchange.
At this congress, we expect that a number of scientific advances will be presented and I am sure that detailed discussions will be held on the themes of primary importance, the future direction of research, and international collaboration in the field of psychosomatic medicine.
It seems to be a particularly opportune moment to see how the research of psychosomatic medicine has been advancing.
I sincerely wish for the great success of the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine, and I hope all our overseas colleagues will have an enjoyable and memorable stay in the port city of Kobe with its fascinating and unique history, and establish new and closer friendship with your colleagues in Japan and abroad.
On the New Paradigm
By Dr. Yoshihide Nakai, President of the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine
Your Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, distinguished guests, fellow scholars, ladies and gentlemen.
It is our highest honor and privilege to have in our presence today Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan at this Opening Ceremony of the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine.
On behalf of the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine, it is indeed my great pleasure to express a sincere welcome to all of you.
Established in 1959, the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine has hosted a number of academic conferences including the 46th Annual Meeting this year.
Our 3,700 registered members consist of various medical experts, including clinicians, clinical psychotherapists and basic medical scientists.
Japan is a nation located at the world's crossroads, both historically and geographically speaking.
In this way, the mission of psychosomatic medicine in Japan serves as a force for the integration of western and eastern medicine.
I am therefore looking forward to an active exchange of opinions and discussions among the psychosomatists gathered here on the new paradigm of psychosomatic medicine as a future core of both medical science and medical services.
I hope that Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine will produce great results and that exchanges of deepened friendship will take place among psychosomatists from within and outside of Japan.
I do hope that your stay in Japan will be a most enjoyable and memorable occasion.
Philosophical Approach
By Dr. George Christodoulou, President of the International College of Psychjosomatic Medicine
Tennoheika, Kogoheika, members of the executive committee, members of the organizing committee, distinguished collegues, ladies and gentlemen.
It's a great privilege for me to represent the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine at this 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine.
It is a joyful event that this memorable congress is happening in Kobe because the contribution of Japanese scientiests in Psychosomatics is considerable.
The term was introduced in 1818 but the concept has existed for a long time.
It was practiced in ancient Greece and it was here that the three basic principles were initiated.
Psychiatric illness does not differ from illness in any respect except the mode of expression.
This is very important to appreciate and accept as then the stigma attached to mental illness disappears and psychiatric patients are treated the same as patients suffering from somatic illness.
Another thing is that absence of illness does not equal health.
One needs some degree of happiness and a good quality of life.
In order to achieve this, we need alliances with the community to help relieve people from illnesses and to secure them a good life.
Congratulatory Messages from Government
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, representing the government of Japan, gave a congratulatory address, while those of the Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Yasufumi Tanahashi and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Nariaki Nakayama were read by representatives.
The texts (unofficially translated into English by Convention News) are as follows.
Mr. Junichiro Koizumi
I am pleased to extend a hearty welcome to all the participants from all over the world on this occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the 18th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine in Kobe and address themselves to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, under the joint auspices of the Science Council of Japan and the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine.
I wish the great success of this international congress for the advancement in the field of Psychosomatic Medicine.
Mr. Yasufumi Tanahashi
It is significant that, psychosomatic medical researchers from more than 40 countries worldwide, and those who work in the forefront of psychosomatic disorder care, have come here to hold the international congress, 10 years after the tragic earthquake.
As an ancient Chinese proverb says, "Ordinary doctors cure disease, excellent doctors cure humans, and even more excellent doctors cure nations."
Psychosomatic medicine is the medical science that analyzes and solves patient problems through various perspectives: physiological, psychological, and social.
It has the basic philosophy in common with traditional medicine, and is well-integrated in modern medical science as well.
Mr. Nariaki Nakayama
I believe that science, technology and academics have been contributing to develop people's lives and economic activities in a continuous manner and will be the key to open the way for a promising furture for mankind.
Based on this concept, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has committed itself to the hope of establishing Japan as a "a nation based on the creativity of science and technology."
Our plans include promoting basic research that can cultivate "intelligence," a driving force in social economic development.
We also intend to promote research and development in life sciences and other fields as the main focus of the Science and Technology Basic Plan, leading to new medical care and an improvement of people's health.
■ Top ■ Index ■ First
|
