One Health Partnerships with Fukuoka, Japan

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Since 2022, the Dept. of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology has
collaborated with Fukuoka, Japan on One Health - an approach that recognizes the
interconnections between human health, animal health, and the health of the environment. A
formal Memorandum of Understanding on One Health Promotion was signed between the
University of Hawaii and the Fukuoka Prefectural Government on April 21, 2023 at John A Burns
School of Medicine. In this MOU, both parties agreed to conduct mutual exchanges to
promote One Health cooperation in research and human resource development.

jabsom and fukuoka officials at the one health signing
President Lassner and Governor Hattori signed the One Health Memorandum of Understanding in April, 2023.

Several meetings were held during 2023 between the parties to discuss potential collaborative
activities including development of One Health curricula at Fukuoka universities and a high
school student exchange. In December, 2023, Fukuoka Prefecture sponsored a Youth
Development Visit by a group of selected high school students from Fukuoka. The students
spent a week in Hawaii learning about Hawaiian culture, interacting with Hawaii high school
students, and visiting JABSOM to learn about One Health in Hawaii. During their JABSOM visit,
these students discussed One Health with Tropical Medicine faculty and graduate students and toured the medical school campus, including its traditional Hawaiian healing garden.

JABSOM Faculty and Fukuoka Prefecture Meet, October 2023.

JABSOM Faculty and Fukuoka Prefecture Meet, October 2023.

JABSOM Fukuoka Youth Development Visit, December, 2023.

JABSOM Fukuoka Youth Development Visit, December, 2023.

Throughout 2024, plans were developed to establish a second One Health collaboration with
the Tsuzuki Education Group, a private educational system consisting of 12 universities, 2 junior
colleges, 9 vocational colleges, and 6 high schools throughout Japan. The Memorandum of
Understanding for Cooperation and Exchange between the University of Hawaii System and
Tsuzuki Education Group, the Daiichi University of Pharmacy, and Yokohama University of
Pharmacy was signed on June 27, 2024 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The purpose of
this MOU is to deliver the One Health Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Certificate Program to
pharmacy students of the Tsuzuki Education Group using both virtual and in person teaching
formats.

UH President Lassner and Tsuzuki Education Group Chancellor Kimiko Tsuzuki signed a One Health MOU
UH President Lassner and Tsuzuki Education Group Chancellor Kimiko Tsuzuki signed a One Health MOU, June, 2024


In October 2024, Fukuoka Prefecture hosted Drs. Sandra Chang and Jerrisa Ching Choe from the
department for a one-week visit to Fukuoka. This visit involved presentations and interactions
with high school and university students participating in One Health educational and
community activities. Another goal of the visit was to meet and prepare students who will
participate in the Fukuoka Youth Development Program visit to Hawaii planned for December,
2024. Finally, a meeting was held with leadership of the One Health Division of the Fukuoka
Prefectural Government and Fukuoka university officials to discuss and provide feedback on the
curriculum for a new One Health introductory course to be introduced at three Fukuoka liberal
arts universities in the upcoming academic year.

jabsom and fukuoka officials in a garden
Principal Asuka Tsuzuki (left) and Vice Principal Takahashi (right), Linden Hall High School, Tsuzuki Educational Group.

fukuoka students on a cloudy day
Drs. Chang and Ching Choe with students from Yame Agricultural High School.