Inspired by being a huge manga fan (shoutout Dokagui Daisuki! Mochizuki-san!) and my work as a psychiatrist/occ doc. Hope this research sparks conversation about protecting creators. Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...

Inspired by being a huge manga fan (Dokagui Daisuki! Mochizuki-san) and my work as a psychiatrist/occ doc. Hope this research sparks conversation about protecting creators. Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...

Recently had a brutal case of shingles.
Japan's public vaccine targets the 65+ population, but the unmet need in the working generation is palpable.

Key finding: Lower awareness is linked to non-regular employment and economic instability, while older age, higher income, and community ties are associated with higher preparedness. This highlights the need for tailored policies to improve resilience among vulnerable groups.

Gave a guest lecture at Namiki Secondary School on my career as an occupational physician & researcher. So humbled by the students' sharp questions and deep engagement. Connecting with the next generation is a true privilege. A huge thank you to everyone involved!

In this era where anyone can suffer mental strain, both compassion and better systems are urgently needed.

While the rise may reflect better awareness and access to the claims process, it also points to the growing number of people truly struggling.
It’s time for workplaces, managers, clients, and policymakers alike to step up.

In FY2024, over 1,000 cases of mental illness were officially recognized as work-related—the highest ever and a 20% increase from the previous year.
Top causes included harassment by superiors and abusive behavior from clients, highlighting the persistent burden of interpersonal stress at work.

Tsukuba University has a student-run newspaper, and I often learn about campus life through it.

Still, I can’t help but wonder:
Could his death have been prevented if he had been treated as a worker from the start?

A fancy title won’t shield a company from responsibility. What matters is the actual working conditions.

But in a recent case, a managing director at a construction firm who died from a heart attack was granted workers’ compensation. His role was judged to have real "worker" characteristics.

In Japan, company executives and self-employed people (including family) are usually not seen as "workers"—so they’re excluded from workers’ comp.