From October 28 to November 1, 2025, the Advanced Training Course on Disaster and Radiation Medicine—a fieldwork program for the Master’s Degree in the Division of Disaster and Radiation Medical Sciences at Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences—was conducted in Kawauchi Village, Tomioka Town, Okuma Town, and Futaba Town in Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture. The course was led by Professor Takamura from the Atomic Bomb Disease Institute’s Department of Disaster Resilience and Science. It provided opportunities for master’s students to exchange views with experts involved in recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Following this, from November 1 to 2, the Fukushima International Research and Education Institute (F-REI) International Symposium was held in Naraha Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture, organized by Nagasaki University. The symposium brought together representatives from domestic and international universities and research institutions, as well as global organizations such as the ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) and IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), to discuss collaboration with F-REI in the field of “Data and Knowledge Accumulation and Dissemination on Nuclear Disasters.”

Researchers from Leiden University also participated in these events. This invitation stemmed from discussions held in May during a visit by Nagasaki University faculty, including the President Nagayasu, to Leiden University Medical Center. The visit highlighted Nagasaki University’s selection for the J-PEAKS program (Japan Program for Enhancing Research Universities as Regional Centers), which aims to strengthen distinctive research universities. Leiden University expressed strong interest in Nagasaki’s radiation research, given its proximity to the Institute for Radiation Medical Research and its historical experience with radiation exposure.

As part of this collaboration, Professor Fijs van Leeuwen and Dr. Matthias van Oosterom from Leiden University Medical Center’s Department of Radiology, along with Mr. Liam Matthew van Dreumel, a master’s student at Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, joined the training course. Professor van Leeuwen, with a Ph.D. in nuclear waste remediation and experience as a radiation safety officer, has collaborated with Hamamatsu Photonics on radiation detection technologies. Dr. van Oosterom specializes in developing portable detectors for precise localization of radioactive signals in complex dynamic environments, such as robotic surgery.

During the seminar, lectures were also provided by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Professors van Leeuwen and Dr. van Oosterom proposed potential joint research projects with JAEA, aiming to leverage mutual strengths to contribute to Fukushima’s recovery. Discussions are ongoing, and further research collaboration is anticipated.

Mr. van Dreumel focused on how ICT integration can improve public policy and services during disaster recovery. He expressed that learning how Japan has responded to severe disasters and understanding the perspectives of its people was an invaluable experience:　“It was unforgettable. I want to learn more about Fukushima and hope to visit both Fukushima and Nagasaki again.”

From left: Prof. van Leeuwen,
Prof. Takamura, Dr. van Oosterom

At the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum

From right: Mr. van Dreumel,
Dr. van Oosterom, Prof.Takamura

From left: Mr. Van Dreumel, Assoc. Prof. Orita, Assistant Prof. Takahashi, and Kawauchi Village Mayor Endo

Morning Session of the Seminar
Held on November 1, 2025