June 15, 2024
A Time for Our Own ME-BYO（未病）
ME-BYO（未病）is a Japanese concept that looks at health as a continuum and applies to all conditions between being “healthy” and “sick.” It’s a philosophy that we experienced and learned about during our trip. Today, Saturday, June 14, 2024, we traveled from Yokohama Station, where we mainly stayed in Japan, to the Hakone Yamoto Tenseien Hotel in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu Park. After a long educational week, meeting with the Governor of Kanagawa, visiting various universities, health systems, and long-term care facilities, and participating in numerous seminars and research presentations, the course faculty did not overlook the importance of giving students time for reflection, fun, and rejuvenation. We had to walk up the hill for 10 minutes to get to the hotel—what a lovely exercise!
The Tenseien hotel, we were told, was built on hot springs, a location that added to its allure. The view was breathtaking, and the experience was beyond words. Some of us wasted no time and went hiking. Others bumped into old friends by mere coincidence, while others, like myself, were fascinated by the sheer beauty of nature. I embarked on a journey to explore Lake Ashi and see Mount Fuji, temples, and shrines echoing the past. Mount Fuji, a volcano that has not had a significant eruption since 864 AD, can be seen from afar; know when you can because the weather can be tricky; one day, the top of the mountain can be seen, and on another disappear in clouds. I joined three friends with whom we rode the cable car and headed to Lake Ashi. The sky was clear, the sun was up, and we could see the famous white frozen, looking like icing on the cake on top of Mount Fuji. There is an incredible feeling when it stands high in the sky, above all else and as old as the history of the universe. Mount Fuji is said to be the highest mountain in Japan. I could not help but marvel at it. The beauty of being old and ancient is unsurpassed, considering why we are here in Japan in the first place. It is the kind of beauty that reflects wisdom, quietness, and stability, with an unsurpassed sense of inner peace. Seeing Mount Fuji’s top is like witnessing the icing on the cake. The experience was genuinely awe-inspiring.
In another instant at the station neat lake Ashi, I saw an older lady on her knees, brushing and shining the tiles with her hands gloved up while she called on a colleague to hand her what cleaning material she needed. As I said hello and tried to have a conversation, she shared her love for her work by gestures and a big smile on her tiny face. She embodied what we were in Japan for to study how people continue to age gracefully by staying active and engaged. I loved how the Japanese carried each other’s burdens and supported each other. This sense of community and mutual support was genuinely heartwarming and made me feel a part of something bigger.
This trip to Hakone has opened my eyes to the beauty of nature, the richness of Japanese culture, and the importance of maintaining a healthy balance in life. Of the many lessons I learned today, one is sharing one another’s burdens and supporting each other’s ME-BYOs. Sharing the burden seems to be a very vivid concept in Japanese culture, where people care and bow to each other in respect, admiration, and appreciation. The insights into ME-BYO have enlightened me and enriched my understanding of the Japanese approach to health and wellness for all, particularly older adults.
Daniel Z. Mansour, PharmD, AGSF, BCGP, FASCP
MS Palliative Care Student
UMB Graduate School