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Published Papers 【 display / non-display 】

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• Evacuation Behavior during Tsunami Warnings among Patients with Chronic Respiratory Disease in the Tsunami Inundation Zone in Okinawa Prefecture.

  Hoshino S, Sekiguchi H, Takeuchi R, Miyagi K, Kobayashi J

  The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine     2026.02 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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• Response to the commentary on "Pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic identification of dengue hotspots and exploration of determinants in Quezon City, Philippines".

  Medina JRC, Kawamura S, Takeuchi R, Cruz RV, Mendoza J, Hernandez PMR, Garcia FB Jr, Gregorio ER Jr, Kobayashi J

  Tropical medicine and health   54 ( 1 ) 18   2026.01 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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• Trends in national-level school feeding policy objectives worldwide: Japan and multiple countries.

  Akiyama T, Tomokawa S, Kigawa M, Shibuya F, Hitachi M, Teshima Y, Shimabukuro L, Hato T, Inoue A, Kurishima A, Mochimaru E, Murata J, Saito N, Tensho S, Takahashi K, Kobayashi J

  Tropical medicine and health   53 ( 1 ) 172 - 172   2025.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

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  Public policy denotes a government's formal intent to address specific issues in pursuit of defined objectives. The vision and mission of school feeding have progressively expanded. This study examined school feeding policy objectives across multiple countries, drawing on data from the Global Survey of School Meal Programs, and identified 23 relevant policies. The objectives were classified into five domains: health and nutrition, education, social protection, agriculture, and other areas. Japan is particularly notable for distinctive aims, including enhancing school life, fostering sociability and cooperation, promoting appreciation of nature, and cultivating respect for life and the natural world.

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• Working in pairs: male-female village health volunteers supporting maternal health and community engagement in remote and ethnic communities of Lao PDR-a qualitative study.

  Uehara M, Vongphoumy I, Ahissou NCA, Pongvongsa T, Phongluxa K, Kobayashi J

  Tropical medicine and health   53 ( 1 ) 141 - 141   2025.10 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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  BACKGROUND: Community health workers (CHWs) are vital for improving maternal and child health (MCH) in underserved settings; however, gender norms often influence their functioning. In the Lao PDR, Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) serve as frontline CHWs in rural areas. Xepon District is a remote border area with Vietnam, characterized by underserved conditions, limited health access, and predominantly ethnic minority populations. The VHV workforce in this district is largely male, which restricts culturally acceptable outreach to women and underscores the need to test a paired male-female model. To address this gender-related limitation, a provincial pilot program introduced male-female VHV/VHW pairs to strengthen MCH outreach. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore how the male-female paired VHV model functions in remote ethnic minority communities and its contributions to maternal health promotion. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in 19 pilot villages in Xepon District, Savannakhet Province, from June to October 2024. Semi-structured interviews were held with 42 participants, including mothers, their partners, VHVs, village leaders, health center staff, and district/provincial health officials. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework. RESULTS: Four key themes emerged: (1) building trust and comfort through gender-matched interactions; (2) gender-specific responsibilities and task sharing between paired VHVs; (3) strengthening family support and health system linkages through female VHV/VHWs engagement; and (4) challenges and support needs for strengthening the VHV Program. Female VHV/VHWs played a crucial role in culturally sensitive maternal outreach, whereas male VHVs facilitated engagement with male household members and community leaders. Paired implementation enhanced service utilization and helped shift household norms. However, challenges persisted, including gender selection barriers, literacy gaps, and limited institutional support for paired training and supervision. CONCLUSION: The male-female VHV/VHWs model may enhance access to MCH services by engaging men and women in complementary roles tailored to local contexts. To maximize its potential, institutional commitment is needed to formalize pair-based training, address gender barriers in recruitment, and strengthen community- and policy-level support systems for CHWs. Given the 2023 PHC policy, embedding gender-sensitive and context-specific approaches into guidelines and training manuals may be critical for aligning service delivery with sociocultural realities and ensuring responsiveness to the unique needs of remote communities.

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• Infectious Disease Awareness Among Future Health Professionals: A Comparison of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Between Nursing Students in Japan and Laos.

  Abeywickrama HM, Pongvongsa T, Sato MO, Takeuchi R, Abiko Y, Yoonuan T, Kobayashi J, Sato M

  Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)   14 ( 9 )   2025.09 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

  Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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  This study assessed and compared the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of nursing students in Japan and Laos, two countries with distinct epidemiological and socioeconomic contexts, regarding neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and zoonoses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire among 190 nursing students from Japan and 254 students from Laos. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze intergroup differences. Most of the study participants were female and in their first or second year of their nursing program. Knowledge gaps were identified in both groups. Japanese students showed a higher perceived susceptibility to infections and greater adherence to hygiene practices. Laotian students reported higher exposure to endemic diseases and more frequent contact with livestock. Attitudes toward public health education were generally positive, although Japanese students expressed a greater willingness to engage in future educational roles. However, gaps between attitude and actual practice were apparent in both groups, including inconsistent use of soap and insect repellents. The findings reveal a gap in knowledge of NTDs and zoonoses and a deficit in translating knowledge and attitudes into preventive behaviors. Findings highlight the need for tailored educational strategies considering behavioral and cultural factors to strengthen the nurse's role in infectious disease prevention.

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• Can a safe delivery be realized in Lao PDR ? - Determinants of selecting childbirth attended by a skilled birth attendant -

  Ibi T, Takahashi K, Kounnavong S, Kobayashi J, Noda S, Nomura M, Horiuchi S, Makimoto S, Phrommala S, Yamaoka K

  Proceedings of APACPH 2016     2016.09

   

• アジアにおける学校保健と健康教育の最前線 子どもたちの心と体を育む教育学的アプローチとは?

  友川 幸, 朝倉 隆司, 湯浅 資之, 小林 潤

  日本健康教育学会誌 ( 日本健康教育学会 )  20 ( Suppl. ) 76 - 76   2012.07

   

• EA9 Knowledge and behavior of inhabitants on the prevention of malaria in Khammouane, Lao PDR

  UZA Miyoko, SASAKI Yachiyo, MIYAGI Ichiro, TOMA Takako, KOBAYASHI Jun, NAGAHAMA Naoki, TAKAKURA Minoru, SAMLANE Phompida, SOMBOUN Bounyadeth

  Medical entomology and zoology ( The Japan Society of Medical Entomology and Zoology )  52 ( 0 )   2001.04

   

Academic Awards 【 display / non-display 】

Academic Awards 【 display / non-display 】

• Ohoyama Health Foundation Award

  2024.03   Ohyama Health Foundation  

  Winner: Jun Kobayashi

• Masamichi Aikawa Medal

  2017.11   Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine  

  Winner: Kobayashi Jun

• Zero Malaria Award

  2016.04   Malaria No More Japan  

  Winner: Kobayashi Jun

• Oyama encourage award

  2013.03   Oyama Health Foundation  

  Winner: Kobayashi Jun

• Prize of research encourage

  2002.10   Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine  

  Winner: Kobayashi Jun

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Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 【 display / non-display 】

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 【 display / non-display 】

• International joint research accelerated Fund (International Collaboration strengthening)

  Project Year: 2020.10  -  2025.03 

• Risk assessment of dengue infection in Philippines using citizen science and spatio-temporal analysis under COVID-19 pandemic circumstance

  Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))

  Project Year: 2020.10  -  2025.03 

  Direct: 14,300,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 18,590,000 (YEN)  Total: 4,290,000 (YEN)

• Risk assessment of dengue infection in Philippines using citizen science and spatio-temporal analysis under COVID-19 pandemic circumstance

  Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))

  Project Year: 2020.10  -  2025.03 

  Direct: 14,300,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 18,590,000 (YEN)  Total: 4,290,000 (YEN)

• Risk assessment of dengue infection in Philippines using citizen science and spatio-temporal analysis under COVID-19 pandemic circumstance

  Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))

  Project Year: 2020.10  -  2025.03 

  Direct: 14,300,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 18,590,000 (YEN)  Total: 4,290,000 (YEN)

• Development of evaluation tools on child development to ensure capability among preschool children in Asia

  Challenging research (sprout)

  Project Year: 2019.06  -  2021.03 

  Direct: 4,900,000 (YEN)  Overheads: 6,370,000 (YEN)  Total: 1,470,000 (YEN)

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SDGs 【 display / non-display 】