On November 13, 2025, Nagasaki University and the University of Kratie co-hosted an international symposium entitled “Current and Future Perspectives on Freshwater Pufferfish Research in Cambodia” at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia.

The purpose of this symposium was to widely share the research outcomes achieved over five years through the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B)) project titled “Transdisciplinary Research toward Creating Safe and Secure Freshwater Pufferfish Cuisine in the Mekong River Basin, Cambodia” (20KK0142, Principal Investigator: Professor WADA Minoru, Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University).

The symposium was also supported by Nagasaki University’s “International Alumni Collaborative Research Support Grant,” which aims to establish and develop the Nagasaki University Global Alumni Network (NUGAN), as this was a collaborative event with Dr. Ngy Laymithuna, President of the University of Kratie, who is also an alumnus of Nagasaki University.

Freshwater pufferfish poisoning occurring in the Mekong River Basin has adversely affected the health of local residents and represents an issue that encompasses the key themes of global health, global risk, and global ecology addressed by our university. The symposium aimed to present findings on changes in freshwater pufferfish toxicity, mechanisms of toxin acquisition, and the socioeconomic background of consumption practices, while also fostering concrete discussions on measures to establish a safe and secure food culture.

At the opening of the symposium, following the national anthems of both countries, a video message from Nagasaki University President NAGAYASU Takeshi was shown. This was followed by opening remarks from Mr. UENO Atsushi, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia, and Dr. Hong Kim Cheang, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of Cambodia.

Oral presentations were delivered by Professor WADA Minoru, Professor ARAKAWA Osamu, and Professor TAKATANI Tomohiro from the Faculty of Fisheries, Former Professor IGUCHI Keiichiro from the Faculty of Environmental Science, and Associate Professor UTSUNOMIYA Yuzuru from the Faculty of Economics at Nagasaki University, as well as Associate Professor OHTA Takahiro from the School of Human Sciences at Osaka University and Dr. DOI Hiroyuki from the NIFREL Division of Kaiyukan Co., Ltd. Dr. Ngy Laymithuna, delivered the closing remarks. At the reception following the symposium, a tasting session of Japanese tiger pufferfish was held by Mr. FURUKAWA Yukihiro, President of the International Fugu Association, introducing the safety and cultural value of Japanese pufferfish cuisine.

Through this symposium, participants engaged in multifaceted discussions on how to prevent freshwater pufferfish poisoning and how to promote the development of freshwater pufferfish that are both safe and palatable, in collaboration with relevant Cambodian institutions. The discussions clearly highlighted the need to further advance research activities in order to reduce health risks associated with pufferfish consumption and to pave the way for the safe and sustainable utilization of freshwater pufferfish in Cambodia.