In April 2020, the Nagasaki University School of Medicine established the Nagasaki University Medical Research Fund Scholarship (commonly known as the NUMF) to provide travel and accommodation expenses (for three months) to researchers from Leiden University (the Netherlands) and Würzburg University (Germany), with whom it has academic exchange agreements, in order to promote researcher-level exchanges between the two universities.

In 2025, Leiden University was able to host Caitlyn Kunkle from 28 April to 12 July, who is a second-year master’s student in the postgraduate health and ageing course at Leiden University and is studying under Professor Nagata of Community Medicine, who has been asked to write an article entitled “Art Activities in the Community”. The impact of arts activities on the well-being of remote islanders” under the supervision of Prof Nagata, Professor of Community Medicine.

As part of the study, a visit to a residents’ health check-up in Tomie, Goto Islands, was conducted on 24 May. This resident health check-up is an arteriosclerosis check-up conducted by Nagasaki University and is a preventive project as part of the ‘follow-up survey of diseases thought to be influenced by lifestyle in the community’.

On 1 July, she also participated in an art workshop for seniors organised by Tokyo University of the Arts on Ojika Island in the Goto Islands.

During her stay in Nagasaki, she met her new friends and exposed to the local food culture, and actively participated in club activities such as Japanese archery and volleyball. She also spent weekends exploring the Nagasaki area and experiencing the various cultures of Nagasaki.

Sushi party with new friends

Kyudo experience

Enjoy the beautiful nature of Iojima Island

Participating in an art workshop for seniors hosted by Tokyo University of the Arts on Ojika Island

Prof. Nagata, Caitlyn and Colleagues from Tokyo University of the Arts.