Final Reflections
On our last day in Yokohama, we convened for a final reflective conversation. After sharing our contemplation on the goals we established prior to this trip, we quickly progressed into conducting an in-depth discussion on the interplay between various fields (e.g., business, government policy, healthcare, and research) positively impact endeavors towards long-term care and quality of life of the older population in Japan.
Our critical analysis of how the U.S. and Japan align and differs in supporting older adults included the following: (1) How the collectivism and relative homogeneity in the Japanese population facilitates community building/outreach/education through shared experience impacting health; and (2) How to increase the accessibility of the cutting edge technology to serve a larger population to achieve health equity.
We concluded by sharing our appreciation for aspects of the course that were particularly beneficial towards shaping our “ikigai,” a meaningful purpose of life that motivates us to start a new day. Some students developed empathy towards patients facing language barriers, which inspired them to actively recruit medical interpreters into practice. Some students contemplated ways to integrate and apply takeaways from this course into their research and clinical practice.
Afterward, we took our one last train trip to Tokyo. At Asakusa, where tradition meets modern society, we appreciated the vibrant beauty of Sensoji temple, the delicacies of dango, and relaxation over a cup of traditional herbal tea. While capturing the Sensoji Temple with Tokyo Skytree, I was reminded of Haruki Murakami’s quote, ”Through the seamless integration of tradition and technology, Japan has found a way to improve the quality of life and longevity of its citizens while staying rooted in its cultural values."
During my two weeks immersion in Japan, I had the great privilege of learning about the Japanese approach towards life while receiving invaluable wisdom that accompanies the passage of time, as Paulo Coelho stated: “The only way to learn is to live.” I seek to cherish these invaluable insights as I endeavor to enhance the quality of life for my future patients.
Euna Cho
MD Student at UM School of Medicine