Mission: Japan 2025

1.07.2025

At the turn of June and July 2025, representatives of the Medical University of Gdańsk visited several Japanese cities to meet with academic partners and participate in the International Mental Wellbeing Conference held as part of the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.

During an intensive series of visits, the MUG delegation – including Prof. Anna Żaczek (Vice-Rector for Development and Cooperation), Assoc. Prof. Michał Hoffmann, Ph.D., D.Sc. (Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs), Prof. Michał Żmijewski (Vice-Rector for Research), Prof. Wiesław J. Cubała (Head of the Department of Adult Psychiatry), Prof. Marcin Fijałkowski (1st Department of Cardiology), Agnieszka Anielska, Ph.D. (Coordinator for Science Communication), and Ewa Kiszka (Head of the University’s Internationalization Office) – visited Toho University and Nagoya University, as well as held talks with academic communities in Kyoto and Osaka. The meetings focused on the continuation and expansion of cooperation in the fields of research, academic mobility, and science outreach.

One of the highlights was the celebration of 30 years of cooperation with Nagoya University, one of MUG’s oldest and most important international partners. The visit included a tour of the university hospital, a session with alumni of past exchange programmes, and a formal dinner – all of which not only marked the long-standing partnership but also opened a new chapter for future joint initiatives. MUG’s delegation was welcomed by Prof. Naoshi Sugiyama and Prof. Norimi Mizutani, the university’s President and Vice President.

The culmination of the visit was the MUG’s participation in the International Mental Wellbeing Conference, where our University was the sole academic institution representing Poland. The event was organised by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, which coordinates the Polish Pavilion at the Expo, and was held on 30th June 2025 to mark Poland’s EU Council Presidency Day.

The conference focused on the challenges of mental wellbeing, particularly among healthcare workers. MUG experts – Prof. Wiesław J. Cubała, Prof. Marcin Fijałkowski, and Agnieszka Anielska, Ph.D. – discussed the topic during a dedicated panel session. The recording of the conference is available HERE, with MUG’s panel beginning around 1:36:00. The keynote guest was Jerzy Owsiak, renowned social activist and founder of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. The event drew a large audience of both Expo visitors and representatives of the academic and political communities, with global access ensured through live streaming.

– I believe I can speak on behalf of the entire team when I say this was an inspiring journey – not only geographically, but above all culturally and intellectually, said Agnieszka Anielska, Ph.D. panel moderator and project coordinator. Taking part in such a meaningful discussion was a great honour, and the opportunity to exchange ideas with brilliant minds made it truly unforgettable.

The day concluded with an extraordinary Symbiosis Symphony concert, combining classical, electronic, and folk music with real-time visual art and AI-generated imagery. The musical direction was led by Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski, named by Variety magazine as one of the world’s top 15 film composers.

– We returned from Japan filled with new ideas and with a strong belief that this is only the beginning of a new stage in our collaboration, emphasized Prof. Anna Żaczek. This visit reaffirmed that, even in a rapidly changing world, some partnerships truly stand the test of time. Japan remains one of our most valuable international allies. Today, international cooperation means much more than mobility – it’s a mindset. Thanks to relationships like this one, MUG continues to thrive as part of a global exchange of ideas.

The visit was made possible through funding from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) as part of the Go! EXPO programme, within the project Towards Global Wellbeing – Strengthening Polish-Japanese Collaboration to Address Transnational Health Challenges.