Meet the Participants of the Sixth TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Training Program*Japanese alphabetical order
Name: Ryo Asahi
Affiliation: Nagaoka Sutoku UniversityHometown: Sanjo, Niigata
My motivation for joining this program is twofold. Firstly, I want to work
as an international disaster nurse in the future. If medical care can beprovided instantly in emergencies where medical care is required such as
natural disasters, wars, and major accidents, preventable deaths can beminimized. Secondly, I believe that this program is the best opportunity to learn about disasternursing outside of school. I was looking for other training programs and workshops, but therecruitment processes were cancelled due to COVID-19. I developed a strong will andintention to participate in this program because disaster nursing is central to my career goals.
I would like to actively speak up, work cooperatively with others, and do my best in thisprogram.
Name: Chikage Kida
Affiliation: St.Luke’s International University Graduate School
Hometown: Ota, Tokyo
Growing up listening to my family's disaster-related experiences, I
became interested in disasters and disaster medicine from an early age.
When the Great East Japan Earthquake struck, I felt powerless because
there was nothing I could do but watch in front of the TV, and I decided
that I want to contribute to the recovery efforts. Following my graduation from university, I
worked as a nurse at a critical care center and dealt with tasks related to COVID-19. From
this experience I came to believe that various types of responses are required such as providing
care for medical staff who work in harsh conditions alongside fear of infection, developing
methods that ensure that appropriate medical care is provided in the midst of chaotic
situations, and establishing systems that allow different institutions and people in different
medical fields to collaborate effectively. These kinds of responses also become necessary in
the events of other disasters. I applied to this program because it is essential to learn about
on-going issues in relation to various disasters, the needs of people in active workplaces anddisaster medical care initiatives both in Japan and overseas in order to be able to cope withthe situation with a broad perspective. I would like to utilize this program to further myunderstanding of disaster nursing while working hard with the other participants. I would also
like to utilize the knowledge and experience I will gain from this program to give back to thosearound me in order to interest them regarding disaster nursing and contemplate the future ofthe field.

Name: Mayu Kumamoto
Affiliation: Saga University
Hometown: Karatsu, Saga
Listening to my father’s stories of volunteering in areas affected by theGreat East Japan Earthquake, I feared that our daily lives could change
in an instant, which piqued my interest in disaster nursing. I knew that I
wanted to become a medical professional who can contribute to people’ssafety as well as their physical and mental well-being during disasters where the situation
changes rapidly. Due to various disasters in recent years including the COVID-19 pandemic,
I believe that the demand for disaster nursing is high. I hope to develop the ability to respondto various situations throughout the program. In addition, I would like to study disasters anddisaster medicine in the United States, discover the differences and similarities in the field ofdisaster nursing between the U.S. and Japan, and consider the aspects that should beincorporated into disaster medicine and nursing in the future. I will do my best to contributeto the future of disaster medical care and disaster nursing.
Name: Ayako Kumoi
Affiliation: The Japanese Red Cross Hiroshima College of Nursing
Hometown: Miyoshi, Hiroshima
I became interested in disaster nursing because of the harmful events
surrounding heavy rainfall in western Japan. While watching an area I
was very familiar with become damaged but not being able to help leftme feeling extremely frustrated. At the same time, learning about therelief efforts through the news left a deep impression on me which made me want to help thevictims in some way. As I pursued my dream to become a nurse, I became involved in disastermedicine. I realized that I wanted to become a nurse who could provide emotional support tothe victims. I applied for the program because I believe that I can learn a lot about a widerange of topics such as how disaster medicine is being handled during the pandemic and how
disaster medicine is handled in the United States. I want to work with a group of people
gathered from around the nation who have similar dreams in order to get myself closer to myown.
Name: Ayano Sakurai
Affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Hometown: Hino, Tokyo
I applied for the program because I am excited about the opportunity tolearn about disaster medicine in the United States and disaster response
efforts in Japan. At a study session, I learned about evacuation centersoverseas that are different from the ones I think of in Japan. I realizedthat it is necessary to become flexible and integrate ideas from overseas into current practices
in order to improve disaster medicine in Japan. I believe that gaining a wide range ofknowledge in Japan and overseas during the program will give me an opportunity to think
about what we should do as nurses to elevate the standard of disaster medicine in Japan. I am
eager to hear opinions from the other students in regard to disaster nursing and broaden myperspective throughout the program. I would like to further develop my understanding andthoughts on disaster nursing and medicine by sharing new perspectives and knowledge I gain
during the program and by listening to the experiences of mentors and instructors.
Name: Misa Negishi
Affiliation: St. Luke's International University
Hometown: Joetsu, Niigata
I have experienced various disasters and accidents, including theChuetsu Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake; I have also
encountered terrorism and robbery while living overseas. I remember thefear and anxiety that I experienced thinking that my everyday life would
collapse in an instant. However, the compassion and kindness of people following a disastergave me hope and courage to live. With that in mind, I want to help people acquire hope tolive and maintain their health, and in the future, I want to work on health issues from theperspective of disaster nursing. This program will offer an opportunity to learn more about
disaster nursing from world-class professionals and receive tips and feedback necessary toachieve my goals. Because my university does not provide opportunities to learn about disasternursing to students until their senior year, this program will be the first step on my journey inthe field of disaster nursing. I would like to help one another in the community of otherparticipants throughout the program, learn how to take on leadership roles as a nurse, andlearn how to implement high-quality basic life support in order to be fully prepared for future
job opportunities. In addition, I will continue to study independently in order to apply what I
have learned in my life as a future disaster nurse.
Name: Shuri Fujiwara
Affiliation: Takarazuka University
Hometown: Shiogama, Miyagi
When I was in fifth grade, I was affected by the Great East JapanEarthquake in Miyagi. From regret of being powerless at that time, I
have avoided facing disasters. However, that experience is also thereason why I want to become a nurse. The experience enabled me tounderstand the ephemeral nature of life and the importance of words. As a result of pursuingthat goal and being thanked by patients along the way, I became aware of the joy one can getout of helping others. I applied for this program because I wanted to face my own experienceand use that firsthand experience to support the people who are facing difficulties. I would
like to become a member of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) in the future. Inorder to achieve that goal, there are many things I must learn, including how a disaster site
operates, what one can do as a medical professional, and what sort of activities DMAT andDisaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPAT) from rural areas engage in particularly when
they have a limited number of people and supplies at their disposal. I am excited for theopportunity to learn from people who have experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake andthe opportunity to learn about the medical disaster system in the United States. I would liketo keep an open mind and proactively absorb the factors from the entire experience bycommunicating with nursing students from all over Japan.
Name: Momo Yoshimi
Affiliation: Chiba University Graduate School
Hometown: Arakawa, Tokyo
I applied for this program because I thought that I could participate inworkshops, engage in discussions with other students who are interested
in disaster nursing, and take advantage of the opportunity to learn aboutdisaster nursing from scratch again, this time with the help of a myriad of different
perspectives. I believe studying independently is not enough and that interacting with others
helps to make the learning experience more impactful. I would like to deepen myunderstanding of disaster nursing by listening to the experiences of others when they haveprovided support to the affected areas. These are experiences that would have been
unavailable to me in a classroom setting; I would like to utilize the knowledge and experiences
I would gain by applying them to nursing research. It is such a valuable experience to be able
to learn about disaster medicine in the United States and exchange opinions with local medical
staff, particularly because the COVID-19 pandemic has made studying abroad extremelydifficult. I believe that this opportunity is necessary in order to develop an international
perspective on the topic of disaster nursing.