Greetings from the director general

Thank you for visiting the Kitasato University Oriental Medicine Research Center (OMRC) website. Since its foundation in 1972 as Japan’s first comprehensive research institute for Kampo medicine (traditional Japanese medicine focusing on treatment using Kampo medicines, acupuncture, and moxibustion), OMRC has been concentrating on the practice of and research on Kampo medicine in Japan, striving for the advancement of Kampo medicine. In 2008, on establishment of the present Kitasato Institute by integrating the former Kitasato Institute and Kitasato University, OMRC was incorporated into the Kitasato University to play a role in Kampo medicine education. OMRC, which was designated as one of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centres for Traditional Medicine in 1986, has been working with WHO, thereby contributing to enhancing health of people around the world. Meanwhile, the Kampo, Acupuncture, and Moxibustion Treatment Center of OMRC offers the highest-level Kampo treatment (using Kampo medicines and acupuncture and moxibustion), personalized for each patient, and is acclaimed at home and abroad. Thanks to the advancement of the modern science-based medicine, diseases for which no conventional treatments were available before have become treatable. On the other hand, however, it has become difficult to take a holistic approach due to excessive specialization and segmentalization of medical care. In these circumstances, there are growing expectations for Kampo medicine, which recognizes the mind and body of patients from an integrated and holistic perspective. In order to meet such expectations, OMRC strives to properly pass down as well as to develop genuine Kampo medicine in the areas of practice, research, and education. In the area of practice, the Kampo, Acupuncture, and Moxibustion Treatment Center offers high-quality Kampo medicine and acupuncture and moxibustion treatments. The practicing physicians are not only specialized in these treatments, but are also well versed in respective specialized areas of Western medicine, and can evaluate the condition of patients from perspectives of both Western and Kampo medicines. A multidisciplinary team composed of physicians, acupuncturists experienced in traditional techniques, and pharmacists possessing a wealth of knowledge about crude drugs and Kampo medicines endeavors to offer Kampo medicine and acupuncture and moxibustion treatments that are customized for individual patients. Research activities are vigorously carried out by the Departments of Basic Research, Clinical Research, and Medical History Research, as well as by the Center for Evidence-Based-Medicine. Focusing on raw herbs and Kampo medicines targeted at the intestinal immune system, neuropsychiatric system, infections, cancer, and digestive disorder, the Departments of Basic Research and Clinical Research conduct basic and translational research with constant attention to clinical practice. The Department of Medical History Research provides historical grounds to justify Kampo treatment and carries out research associated with identification and conservation of historical values of traditional medicine across East Asia, thereby producing results highly esteemed at home and abroad. Meanwhile, at the Center for Evidence-Based-Medicine, generation of evidence for Kampo treatment, research toward standardization of practice of Kampo medicine, etc., are conducted, while a large-scale industry-government-academia project is also underway, aiming to establish a control system for pre-disease conditions. In addition to education at the school of medicine and graduate school, postgraduate education is widely provided to physicians, acupuncturists, pharmacists, etc. Specifically, OMRC plays an important role as one of a handful of institutes that can provide education about clinical practice and research of Kampo medicine while passing down knowledge of real Kampo medicine. In addition to the above activities, OMRC carries out a wide range of activities to promote and develop Kampo medicine, including joint research with domestic academic organizations associated with Kampo medicine; participation in meetings of Kampo-related academic societies, including the Japan Society for Oriental Medicine (JSOM), the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (JSAM), and the Medical and Pharmaceutical Society for WAKAN-YAKU; and joint industrial-academic projects with Kampo-related companies. In the international arena, OMRC not only acts as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine, but also actively conducts activities including participation in international meetings of Kampo-related academic societies through partnership agreements with overseas research institutes of traditional medicine. Although the origin of Kampo medicine is traced back to ancient Chinese medicine, it underwent transformation in the course of long history to suit the constitution and nature of Japanese people, even becoming a part of Japanese culture, like tea ceremony and Noh theater. Taking into account such cultural aspects, OMRC strives to accomplish its mission of properly passing down and developing genuine Kampo medicine, thereby contributing to the health of people not only in Japan, but also all over the world. We assure you of our constant efforts and appreciate your generous support and cooperation.