Meet the Participants of the Seventh TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Training
Program*Japanese alphabetical order
Name: Hikari Inayoshi
Affiliation: University of Hyogo, Department of Nursing
Hometown: Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture

When I was a high school student, I participated in a volunteer study
abroad program on Cebu Island in the Philippines and saw people
living in areas with poor sanitary conditions. I wanted to provide
nursing care to people who could not easily receive such medical care, and this is what initiallysparked my interest in international nursing. I then learned about the effects of a major
earthquake that had occurred in Cebu Island during my study abroad and the situation there.
At that time, I realized that I needed to learn disaster nursing in order to become a medical
professional who can care for as many people as possible when disasters occur in poor areas.
Now I want to become a medical professional who can provide accurate and correct care inany place, including developing countries, developed countries, impoverished areas, andduring disasters. I would like to learn about disaster nursing through friendly competition
with my fellow participants in this program. I look forward to working with you.
Name: Rina Iwanaga
Affiliation：St. Luke's International University, Graduate School ofNursing
Hometown：Chikugo City, Fukuoka Prefecture

I became interested in disaster nursing about two years ago afterparticipating in disaster volunteer activities in Omuta City, Fukuoka
Prefecture. I wanted to participate in this program to learn about disaster countermeasures
together with nursing students from all over Japan. In recent years, floods and other disasters
have occurred in many parts of Japan. For this reason, I feel the importance of thinking about
disaster countermeasures even in normal times, and I would like to learn more about what I,

as a nurse, can do for a disaster countermeasure. I would also like to use the knowledge andexperience I have gained from this training program to identify Japan's strengths andproblems related to disaster countermeasures and come up with solutions. I would also like to
use the knowledge and ideas I have gained to think about the roles I would be expected to playin the event of a disaster, and to build up my ability to respond to disasters.
Name: Saki Uchida
Affiliation: Tohoku University, School of Medicine, School of HealthSciences, Department of Nursing
Hometown: Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture

I became strongly interested in disaster nursing after learning aboutcommunity nursing in times of disaster during my community
nursing training at school. I believe that the cooperation of local residents and cooperation
among medical professionals and medical institutions are essential to building a communitythat is resilient to disasters. As a public health nurse, I would like to be involved in community
nursing in the future. Through this program, I would like to think about how to build acommunity that can cope with disasters, where people, medical and welfare institutions, andfacilities can cooperate with each other on a broad scale, while involving local residents, andmaking the best use of this knowledge in my future community nursing activities. In addition,
I am currently interested in evacuation support for those in need of assistance, as well as foodand nutrition management support in disaster situations for people with food allergies,swallowing disorders, chronic illnesses, and other conditions that prevent them from eating
regular disaster food.
Name: Misaki Kagawa
Affiliation: Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Department ofNursing
Hometown: Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture

I applied for this program because I felt that through fieldwork andexchange of opinions, I could gain experience and tips toconsolidate the knowledge I have gained and become an international midwife. In the world,
there are people in need of medical care due to natural disasters and wars. I would like to learn
the skills to respond calmly and quickly in such urgent situations, and the ability to solve
problems responsibly in an environment with limited material and human resources. I also
felt that I would be able to make connections across borders with new like-minded colleagues.
In this program, I feel that I will have the opportunity to learn about disaster medical caresystems in Japan and abroad, and I would like to think about the diversity of medical care bycapturing the differences in needs and values due to the culture of each country. Through thisprogram, I would like to learn and study in a friendly competition with other participants, andby sharing what I learn with those around me, I would like to make as many people interested
in disaster nursing as possible. Furthermore, I would like to make efforts to develop the fieldof disaster nursing.

Name: You Sato
Affiliation: Keio University, School of Nursing and Medical Care
Hometown: Virginia, United States

During my stay in the United States, I participated in club activities
such as Red Cross and UNICEF at school. Among other things, I
became interested in disaster nursing because I wanted to helpalleviate the physical and emotional suffering of people during disasters. Through myactivities and university lectures, I realized that the needs people seek are different in therapid response to a disaster and in the months and years after a disaster strikes. Now that I
have mastered nursing skills, I thought I could do more, so I decided to apply for
TOMODACHI. I am eager to share my thoughts on disaster nursing with others and deepen
my learning. I would also like to utilize my strengths, such as what only I can do and myleadership skills to organize a team, in my application for this program.

Name: Yuna Hamaguchi
Affiliation：Takarazuka University, Department of Nursing, Facultyof Nursing
Hometown：Hannan City, Osaka Prefecture

Reports of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Kumamoto
Earthquake made me keenly aware of the tragedy of natural disasters
even as an elementary school student. Although I have never actually experienced a disaster,
it is said that a huge Nankai Trough earthquake will occur in the future. In Osaka, where I
live, it is estimated that up to 130,000 people could be affected. When I thought about what I
could do as a nurse and what my role would be in the event of a disaster, I decided toparticipate in this project. I would also like to use this project as an opportunity to makeconnections across national borders, including the United States. I would like to do my best
to grow as a person and as an aspiring healthcare professional by being stimulated by thevarious ideas of different people. I hope to share what I have learned from this project withmy fellow university students.

Name: Haruka HisamatsuAffiliation: Keio University, Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care
Hometown: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

I am interested in mental health and public health. I believe thatboth of these are important elements in the field of disasternursing. I wanted to participate in this program because I thought
it would allow me to learn more about my areas of interest. Through my participation in thisprogram, I would like to learn about the various stresses that disaster victims experience intheir daily lives, how they cope with these stresses, and what kind of care can minimize theirstress. I would also be happy to exchange ideas with people who are interested in the same
field, so that I can integrate various ideas, deepen my learning, and expand my own knowledge.
I look forward to working with you.

Name: Mihoko Fujii
Affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Department of
Health Sciences, Nursing
Hometown: Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture

One of the main reasons I decided to study nursing was the torrential
rain disaster in my hometown that I encountered when I was in highschool. Although there was little major damage in my area, there was damage in neighboringareas, and I participated in volunteer activities. What I saw and felt with my own eyes during
the volunteer activities, as well as the experience of talking to and shadowing nurses I met
there, made me strongly believe that in the future I would like to do something to help in adisaster situation like this, where the balance of supply and demand changes drastically. While
studying nursing at university, I have been exposed to various aspects of nursing and myinterest has been expanding, but this desire has remained strong and has become myfoundation. While integrating my past studies, I would like to further deepen my knowledgeof disaster nursing, which is my strongest interest, through this program.

Name: Haruka Funajima
Affiliation: Miyagi University, School of Nursing
Hometown: Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture

I experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake when I was inelementary school. My grandparents' house was completely
destroyed by the tsunami at that time, and my grandfather, who wasliving in that muddy house, became ill. The care provided by the medical staff at theevacuation center at that time was very kind, warm, and most reassuring to my grandfather,
who was confused and anxious. Seeing the smile on my grandfather's face when he returned
home, I decided that I wanted to become a member of the medical staff who could play anactive role in times of disaster, and I am currently studying disaster nursing. Because I haveexperienced being in a disaster myself, I feel that I can understand the anxiety of a disasterand provide dedicated nursing care that is close to the feelings of the victims. I learned aboutthis program during my first year of college and have always been interested in it and wanted
to participate. Now that I have studied disaster nursing throughout my three years ofuniversity, I would like to actively deepen my knowledge of disaster nursing through thisprogram, based on my broad knowledge, multifaceted perspective, and practical skills.

Name: Risa Yoshida
Affiliation ： Saint Luke's International University, Department ofNursing, School of Nursing
Hometown：Koto-ku, Tokyo

There are two main reasons why I chose this program: First, thecurriculum is very comprehensive. Second, I wanted to connect with adiverse group of people. I was attracted by the opportunity to interact with clinicallyexperienced medical professionals and disaster nursing specialists from around the world, as
well as with my peers who are learning together and taking the lead in disaster nursing. Whatis disaster nursing? What does it mean that "medical care may have its limits, but the powerof nursing is unlimited" in the field of disaster nursing? I would like to learn those things
through this program. In the remaining three years of university, I would like to keep thinking
about what I need to do to prepare myself to be a nurse who can be used in disaster situations.