Mar. 12 Hybrid Int’l Symposium on the Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS): “After 15 Years, into the Future — Life after the Great East Japan Earthquake”
2026 Fukushima Medical University International Symposium
on the Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS) to be held on March 12, 2026
“After 15 Years, into the Future — Life after the Great East Japan Earthquake”
1. Purpose
Fukushima Medical University’s Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey (hereinafter, “the Center”) invites you to our International Symposium to disseminate the latest information on the Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS*) to domestic and international audiences. Through discussions with participating experts and stakeholders from Japan and abroad, the symposium seeks to promote new developments in scientific knowledge derived from the Survey and to share its findings globally, thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of the health of Fukushima residents.
*What is “FHMS”?
The FHMS is a health survey commissioned by Fukushima Prefecture and conducted by Fukushima Medical University since 2011. Its purpose is to assess prefectural residents’ radiation exposure doses and consequences related to evacuation after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, as well as to ascertain the health status of residents in general, for disease prevention, early detection, early treatment, and to maintain and promote the health of prefectural residents into the future.
The Survey consists of a “Basic Survey” to estimate external radiation doses during the period when air doses were highest, and four detailed surveys: “Thyroid Ultrasound Examination (TUE),” “Comprehensive Health Check(CHC),” “Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey (KOKOKARA Survey),” and “Pregnancy and Birth Survey(PBS).”
２． Program Outline
This eighth Symposium marks the 15th year since launching the FHMS. In recognition of this milestone, the theme, “After 15 Years, into the Future – Life after the Great East Japan Earthquake,” will be addressed by 11 leading experts from Japan and abroad.
The program is structured around three topical sessions and a keynote lecture. The first session presents an overview of scientific findings and insights gained through the Survey. The second session explores how lessons learned from disaster experiences can be applied to future challenges. The final session is also an Open Lecture for Residents, designed to communicate important information to the public in a clear and accessible way.
To begin, Dr. YASUMURA Seiji, Executive Director of the Center, will present an easy-to-understand “Overview of the Fukushima Health Management Survey.”
In Session 1, “Fifteen Years Since 3.11: Progress through Challenges,” our faculty members in charge of each survey (Basic Survey, TUE, CHC, KOKOKARA Survey, and PBS) will make detailed presentations on results and challenges identified through the surveys.
In the Keynote, Dr. LAURIER Dominique, Deputy Head of the Directorate of Health Research and Expertise, French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR), will present “Lessons learned from epidemiology on health risks in the field of low doses.”
In Session 2, “The Future in Disaster-Affected Areas – Building a Brighter Tomorrow,” Dr. KAMIYA Kenji, Chair of the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), will present “Eighty Years After the Atomic Bombings: The Survivors’ Messages, Their Legacy, and the Way Forward,” and Dr. KATO Hiroshi, Director of the Hyogo Institute for Traumatic Stress will present “Development and Future Challenges of Post-Disaster Mental Health Care.”
In Session 3, “Open Lecture,” Dr. ISHIKAWA Tetsuo, Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Physics and Chemistry, FMU School of Medicine will present “Radiation: what I want to reemphasize,” and Dr. GOTO Aya, Professor, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will present “Health Information as Medicine: A Guide to Health Literacy.”
The symposium will be held with the support of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, and other related ministries, agencies, and organizations in the prefecture.
３. Organizer
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University
４. Date and Venue
Thursday, March 12, 2026 12:20-18:10 JST
Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima Ekimae Campus, Multi-Purpose Hall
10-6 Sakae-machi, Fukushima City, Fukushima
*Online live streaming will be available via Zoom
５. Intended audience
The symposium is open to everyone: general residents of Fukushima Prefecture,
healthcare workers, students, governmental workers, etc.
６． Format
On-site and online live streaming (via Zoom) participation
Languages: Japanese and English, with simultaneous interpretation
A video recording of the symposium will be available later on a streaming platform.
7． Capacity
On-site participation (seating capacity: 75), with open registration until the venue fills.
Details for online viewing (via Zoom) will be provided once seating capacity is reached.
８. Registration for Participation
Pre-registration is required for both on-site and online participation.
No registration or participation fee is required.
Registration deadline: Monday, March 12, 2026
Please click here to visit our Symposium’s special website and check for details: ↓
https://fhms.jp/en/symposium/
９. Program
Opening
Opening remarks from the organizer: TAKENOSHITA Seiichi (President, FMU)
Congratulatory remarks: Fukushima Prefecture
Chair: OHTO Hitoshi (FMU)
Presenter: YASUMURA Seiji (FMU)
Overview of the Fukushima Health Management Survey
Session 1 Fifteen Years Since 3.11: Progress through Challenges
Chairs: OHIRA Tetsuya (FMU), IKEDA Noriko (FMU)
Presenter: ISHIKAWA Tetsuo (FMU) – Basic Survey
Significance and Key Findings of the Basic Survey
Presenter: SUZUKI Satoru (FMU) – Thyroid Ultrasound Examination
Fifteen Years of the Thyroid Ultrasound Examination Program:
Achievements and Future Directions
Presenter: SHIMABUKURO Michio (FMU) – Comprehensive Health Check
What We’ve Learned Over 15 Years and What Lies Ahead
Presenter: HORIKOSHI Naoko (FMU) – Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey
Reflecting on 15 Years of the “Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey (KOKOKARA Survey)” Activities for Disaster-Affected People
Presenter: ISHII Kayoko (FMU) – Pregnancy and Birth Survey
Ten-year Pregnancy and Birth Survey Results and Four-year Post-disaster
Follow-up Findings
Discussion
Keynote Lecture
Chair: SHIMURA Hiroki (FMU)
Presenter: LAURIER Dominique (ASNR)
Lessons learned from epidemiology on health risks in the field of low doses
Session 2 The Future in Disaster-Affected Areas – Building a Brighter Tomorrow
Chairs: TSUBOKURA Masaharu (FMU),
MAEDA Masaharu (Fukushima Center for Disaster Mental Health)
Presenter: KAMIYA Kenji (Radiation Effects Research Foundation)
Eighty Years After the Atomic Bombings: The Survivors’ Messages, Their Legacy, and the Way Forward
Presenter: KATO Hiroshi (Hyogo Institute for Traumatic Stress)
Development and Future Challenges of Post-Disaster Mental Health Care
Session 3 Open Lecture
Chair: NOLLET Kenneth (FMU)
Presenter: ISHIKAWA Tetsuo (FMU)
Radiation: What I Want to Reemphasize
Presenter: GOTO Aya (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
Health Information as Medicine: A Guide to Health Literacy
Closing
Closing remarks: OHTAKE Tohru (FMU)
10. Application for media coverage
We encourage and appreciate coverage of this symposium.
https://forms.gle/
The application deadline is Monday, March 2, 2026.
To apply, please visit our website
＜For inquiries, please contact＞
Office of Public Communications and International Cooperation
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey
Fukushima Medical University
TEL:+81-24-581-5452／FAX:+81-
＜Photos (from the left)＞
1. FMU Logo
2. 2026 International Symposium Information site
