On March 4, 2025, Professor Taku Iwami of the Preventive Medicine Field at the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Specially Appointed Lecturer Norihiro Nishioka, and Tomoyuki Yamamoto from the Professional Degree Program visited Aalto University in Finland, where they exchanged views with many researchers, including Senior Lecturer Sari Kujala and her team of researchers.
The Kyoto University delegation introduced Professor Iwami’s initiatives in digital health in Japan—such as the implementation of Personal Health Records (PHR)—while Aalto University presented its research on the usability of digital health. The event was also featured on Aalto University’s website.

https://www.aalto.fi/en/news/finnish-expertise-in-the-usability-of-ehealth-services-is-appreciated-in-japan

Additionally, before and after this visit, the delegation visited the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM), and Business Finland. During these visits, they held comprehensive Q&A sessions addressing the challenges and future directions of Finland’s Kanta service (equivalent to Japan’s “Nationwide Medical Information Sharing Platform”). Learning about the issues Finland—a country renowned for its digital advancements—has faced and resolved provided valuable insights.

(Commemorative photograph with Professor Tarja Heponiemi’s research team from THL and the visiting delegation)

Since Tomoyuki Yamamoto’s trip was part of the Super Global Course (※), he stayed at Aalto University for several days afterward to receive research guidance from Senior Lecturer Sari Kujala. This experience was also featured on Aalto University’s blog. Through this visit, the goal of further advancing research and academic exchanges between the two universities has been established as a new priority.