Post date: Jan 6, 2018 1:47:39 AM
On the 13th of November, the UWC ISAK Japan community had the privilege of attending a talk given by Dr. Masaharu Tsubokura.
Dr. Masaharu Tsubokura is a researcher at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Medical Science, and a doctor of hematology at the Minamisoma General Municipal Hospital. After the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in 2011, he worked with local municipalities and medical facilities in Fukushima, and was responsible for the establishment of the internal radiation exposure screening programs for the local residents. He is also a member of the committee on radiation protection and public health in Minamsioma and Soma, and has actively sought to provide radiation seminars to the public, to respond to public worries about the effects of radiation exposure on health.
The Guest Speaker Committee chose to have a serious talk for the first event of the year, as it really raised the awareness of the accident to all students, and I personally think that this is part of our learning of Japanese history. It is true that we came to Japan to enjoy the country and receive a good education, but I also think that the more aware we are about serious world situations, the more responsible we are as citizens of this world.
The talk was really interesting. Dr. Tsubokura is a captivating speaker and I was shocked by the examples that he provided, and how they connected to me on an emotional level. One aspect that I found to be powerful was the explanation of the event from Dr. Tsubokura's perspective both as a doctor, and as a husband. In such circumstances, there is no correct decision to make as a doctor could either save the lives of others, or go and look after his beloved ones. I feel that this connects with me, and all UWC ISAK students as we may face similar difficult situations in life, and what matters is that we believe in the decisions that we make.
The talk also helped raise the awareness of students regarding the Fukushima accident, and the serious impact that it had on the lives of many people. I was also amazed when Dr. Tsubokura stated that there were no fatalities linked to radiation, and that stress was the main fatality, ultimately resulting in many breast cancer deaths.