This department was established in 2000 with Masahiro Kihara as its first professor. The Department of Socio-epidemiology, which integrates epidemiology and social science, has advocated a comprehensive methodology for public health, and has promoted education and research that inherits the tradition of Kyoto University’s emphasis on this field. In addition to pioneering and leading epidemiological research on HIV infection in Japan, the University has actively promoted global health research with the participation of many students from developing countries, and in 2006 was designated as a Joint Research Center of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
In September 2020, Naoki Kondo was appointed as the second professor. Inheriting the tradition of field-oriented research, Professor Kondo emphasizes the importance of using large-scale quantitative data and of implementing the findings from research in a wide range of social systems, while collaborating with diverse organizations. The current lab name is the Department of Social Epidemiology.
Member
Professor
Naoki Kondo
Research: Social Epidemiology, Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health
People’s health is affected by social circumstances such as education, income, occupation, and their connections. It is also affected by national and regional policies, culture, economic trends, income disparity, and other social factors. Therefore, it is not possible to protect people’s health only with approaches that encourage individuals to take rational actions such as “exercise moderately” or “stop smoking”. Social epidemiology uses epidemiological methods to elucidate these “social determinants of health” and to control the health disparities that arise from them. Our goal is to create a society in which everyone can be naturally healthy.
Project Professor [The Growth Strategy Headquarters Beyond 2050 Initiative, Growth Strategy Headquarters, Kyoto University] / Adjunct Researcher [Social Impact Evaluation (Endowed Chair)]
Katsunori Kondo
Research: Social Epidemiology, Health Inequalities, Social Capital, Zero Tier Prevention, Health and Medical Care Policy
I’ve been conducting research on social epidemiology and health/medical/caregiving policies for over 25 years, including the potential of social capital as a countermeasure for health disparities.In the future, I’d like to challenge the collective impact of industry-government-academia-industry collaboration to create a primordial prevention (i.e., an environment where people can naturally become healthy).
Associate Professor (Hakubi Center)
Kosuke Inoue
Research: Clinical Epidemiology, Causal Inference, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Health Services Research
Dr. Inoue is a clinician and epidemiologist. He specializes in the development of methodologies in causal inference (the study of cause and effect) and their application to the field of non-communicable diseases (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, obesity, etc). By identifying the causal mechanisms involved in these diseases and associated social risks, he aims to contribute to the development of scientific evidence to improve population health.
Program-Specific Associate Professor [The Growth Strategy Headquarters Beyond 2050 Initiative, Growth Strategy Headquarters, Kyoto University]
Akira Kyan
Research: Social Epidemiology of Children and Adolescent, Exercise Epidemiology, Health Disparities, Health Promotion
Although he initially planned to become a health and physical education teacher, he ultimately pursued a career in research to take a broader approach to promoting children’s health and well-being. His current research focuses on understanding the social determinants of health in children and adolescents and devising health promotion measures aimed at correcting health disparities.
Program-Specific Associate Professor and Chairperson [Social Impact Assessment (Endowed Chair)]
Daisuke Takagi
Research: Social Epidemiology, Social Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Public Health, Social Network Analysis, Spatial Analysis
In order to solve health issues in modern society, it is necessary to mobilize knowledge not only from medicine and health sciences but also from various other fields. I would like to promote research activities that contribute to the creation of a better society in cooperation with various people, regardless of the boundaries of academic fields, and with a commitment to the goal of “improving the wellbeing of society.
Program-Specific Associate Professor [Social Impact Assessment (Endowed Chair)]
Daisuke Nishioka
Research: Public Health Social Work, Poverty, Public Assistance
My research centers on advancing social and health equity by addressing the systemic barriers that prevent individuals—especially those experiencing poverty, social isolation, disability, or geographic marginalization—from fully exercising their right to health.
At the core of my work is a commitment to social reform that amplifies the health rights of people in vulnerable situations—many of whom are subject to epistemic injustice, their voices unheard or undervalued in public discourse and policymaking. I engage directly with individuals with lived experience, frontline practitioners, and policymakers, striving to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world impact. By co-producing knowledge with individuals whose voices are often underrepresented, I aim not only to understand social issues, but to contribute to transformative change.
Lecturer
Maho Haseda
Research: Health Inequalities, Intersectoral Collaboration, Gerontology, Primary Care
Dr.Haseda is a Japan Primary Care Association (JPCA)/ Japanese Association for Home Care Medicine (JAHCM) certified primary care physician. Her main research interest is health inequalities among older people. She works to contribute to a society where people in any situation can live their lives even in their later lives.
Assistant Professor
Yukiko Honda
Research: Social Epidemiology and Socio-epidemiology, Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health, Global Health
Dr. Honda is intrigued by the question of what can serve as a lasting support throughout our journey in life. The answer to this question may not be singular. Using epidemiological research methods, she is dedicated to exploring these diverse answers both quantitatively and qualitatively. Her ultimate objective is to contribute to the prevention of undesired isolation among children and parents. Additionally, she aims to contribute to the establishment of support systems that consider the entire life course.
Program-Specific Assistant Professor [Social Impact Assessment]
Nana Ishimura
Research: Social Epidemiology, Social Determinants of Health in Renal Disease, Health Disparities, Creating a Society in Which Everyone Can Be Naturally Healthy
I am a physician in nephrology, dialysis therapy, and occupational health. My research interests include clarifying health disparities in kidney disease and the underlying mechanisms, as well as creating a society in which fewer people suffer from dialysis. I will also work on promoting community development activities under the collaboration of industry, government, and academic sectors towards the symbiotic society and social impact assessment and evaluation of these activities from fiscal year 2025.
Program-Specific Assistant Professor [Social Impact Assessment]
Haruna Kawachi
Research: Public Assistance, Child Poverty, Life Course Epidemiology
She explores the relationship between poverty and health, aiming to help build a society where everyone can live well and with peace of mind.
Adjunct Lecturer
Haruyo Mitani
Research: ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), Social Isolation, Social Support, Family Sociology, Welfare Sociology, Social Surveys, and Quantitative Analysis
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University
Yuri Ito
Research：Health Statistics and Epidemiology, Cancer Registries and Cancer Screening, Health Inequalities, Database Studies
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Medical Statistics, Research & Development Center Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
Kaori Honjo
Research：Epidemiology, Social Epidemiology, Health Inequalities, Gender
Affiliation: Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
Yoshihisa Fujino
Research: Epidemiology, Public Health, Occupational Health, Presenteeism, Compatibility Support, Health Disparities, Health Impact Assessment (HIA)
Affiliation: Professor, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Masamitsu Kamada
Research: Physical Activity
Affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Health Education and Health Sociology, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Adjunct Lecturer / Research Fellow
Koryu Sato
Research: Health Economics, Social Security, Educational Inequalities, Health and Productivity Management, Gerontology
After working for 12 years at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), where he was involved in planning medical and long-term care insurance policies, Dr. Sato jumped into the world of research. He is interested in various fields including health, education, economics, and policy.
Research Fellow
Hiroshi Habu
Research: Cultural Prescription, Community, Art, Well-being, Dialogue, Physical Culture
He is conducting research on how to create a enriched community and live a fulfilling life, and implementing various art projects. He’d like to integrate the inherent non-exchangeability of art, which has the power to transform what is perceived as negative into a positive, with the evidence-based and quantitative nature of epidemiology. This integration aims to contribute to the creation of communities that foster individual well-being. Furthermore, he’d like to deepen his understanding of facilitation techniques that can effectively bridge these two aspects within the community.
Du Zhen
Research: Aging in Place, Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health, Neighborhood Environment, Precision Public Health
I am interested in elucidating how neighborhood environments and lifestyle behaviors influence health, focusing on behavioral pathways and the heterogeneity of these effects across individual characteristics and social contexts. My research seeks to generate empirical evidence that advances precision public health and promotes health equity.
Adjunct Research Fellow
Keiko Ueno
Research: Cooperation in the community, welfare system, emergency medical care system
After completing a surgical residency and working as an emergency physician, Dr.Ueno entered a graduate school and started her career as a researcher. Her goal is to contribute to the creation of a community where various people and organizations can work together to connect support.
Andrew Stickley
Research: Mental Health, Public Health, Environmental Epidemiology
Dr. Stickley’s main research interests include loneliness, suicidal behavior, neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, ASD), common mental disorders, psychotic experiences, disability, alcohol epidemiology, health risk behaviors, health inequalities, violence.
Doctoral students (4th Year)
Hiroko Sakurai
Research Interests: Health Inequality, Chronic Disease, Regional Medical Care, Primary Health Care, Social Capital
She is a family physician. She is studying in this lab while engaging in primary care at Iwate Prefecture. She would like to explore what residents and primary care providers can do in an aging and decreasing population region.
Yoshikazu Komura
Research Interests: Social Determinants of Mental Disorder, Causal Inference, Child Psychiatry
He aims to build evidence to realize a world where all people can lead healthy lives.
Paul Pereyra
Research Interests: Social Epidemiology, Social Determinants of Health, Health Inequality, Causal Inference
He is a Physician and Physical Therapist (PT), focusing on understanding social determinants of health and reducing health disparities. His research interest is causal inference, reverse causation, and social capital. His purpose is to achieve health equality in society through research on social epidemiology.
Doctoral students (3rd Year)
Mieko Ohsuga
Research Interests: Effective Use of ICT to Improve Well-Being for Various People
Her specialty is ergonomics and psycho-physiological engineering, and she is doing research on ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in her current position (Faculty of Robotics and Design, Osaka Institute of Technology). I would like to contribute to creating a society where people (even if they are not healthy or elderly) can live a happy life.
Anna Kosaka
Research Interests: Social Epidemiology, Social Determinants of Health, Maternal and Shild Health, Life Course, Social Implementation
While working as a doctor, she learned that there are lives that cannot be saved solely through clinical practice. Her objective is to create a social environment in which all people can live a natural and affluent life.
Hanae Nagata
Research Interests: Health Promotion, Health and Productivity Management, Social Determinants of Health
She is an occupational physician and occupational health consultant. She is interested in health and productivity management through health promotion programs.
Hiroshi Hirota
Research Interests: Health Disparities, Social Epidemiology, Remote Medicine, Diabetes and Metabolism.
He will work towards improving the health disparities he experienced in his remote medical practice, both as a diabetologist and from a social epidemiology perspective.
Ryohei Oda
Research Interests: Health Disparities, Community Health and Wellness, Social Prescribing, Primary Care
He is a general practitioner. He hopes to assess and eliminate the various health disparities he has experienced through his medical work in urban, rural, and remote islands, and to contribute to building evidence to enable people to live their lives in society as they wish to be.
Rom Lunar
Research Interests: Physical activity and sedentary behavior, healthy aging, social determinants of health
He is interested in identifying social inequalities in physical activity and sedentary behavior among older adults and will study the differences that exist between cohorts of different socioeconomic statuses in various settings. He is also interested in clarifying the factors that lead to the success or failure of interventions aimed at improving physical activity and sedentary behavior in older adults and the impact on health inequalities.
Doctoral students (2nd Year)
Aayaka Sato
Research Interests: Social Determinants, Psychiatric Disorders, Perinatal Mental Health
Based on my experience as a public health nurse, I am mainly interested in psychiatric disorders and perinatal mental health. Through my research, I aim to contribute to the creation of communities where all people can live in good health.
Liu Qiuyi
Research Interests: Social Determinants of Health, Social Isolation, Health Inequality
She is interested in the impact of the social environment on health, especially health problems caused by loneliness and isolation.
Tayzar Tun
Research: Health Inequities, Social Determinants of Health, Subjective Well-Being
He is a medical doctor who is passionate about fairness and ensuring everyone gets the help they need for their well-being. His work involves understanding why some people are healthier than others and addressing the inequalities that leave some behind. He wants to make things better for everyone so that everyone has an equal opportunity to experience well-being.
Doctoral students (1st Year)
Katsuki Osaki
Research Interests: Social Determinants of Mental Illness and Dementia, Maintaining Cognitive Function, Improving Well-being of Older Adults
I am a Designated Mental Health Physician, and I’d like to contribute to the creation of a society that respects diverse backgrounds and allows everyone to be themselves naturally and in good health.
Koichi Hata
Research Interests: Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities, Social Prescribing, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Dialysis
I am a physician specializing in general internal medicine, nephrology, and dialysis care. I am also involved in disaster medicine as a member of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT). I sincerely hope for a society where elderly people, who have lived through life with resilience, and children, who will shape our future, can live safely, freely, and in good health. To help make that vision a reality, I am committed to research and practice in community building, urban planning, and the development of social systems, aiming to contribute, even in small ways, to creating a better society for all.
Yuichi Murayama
Research Interests: Social Epidemiology, Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparity, Minority Health, Migrant Health
As a physician, I am interested in the health of foreign-born individuals in Japan. Through social epidemiology, I aim to help visualize and address health issues faced by those with different languages and cultural backgrounds.
Master’s students (2nd Year)
Yuina Saiga
Research Interests: Social Prescribing, Cultural Prescribing, Well-Being, Community Building
I’m interested in the impact of local community and art/cultural activities on health. I would like to contribute to the creation of a society in which everyone can live a fulfilling life.
Mizuki Tawa
Research Interests: Health Disparities , Well-Being, Social Implementation
My background is in dentistry. I am interested in the relationship between psychosocial well-being and health. My goal is to create a sustainable society where everyone can achieve good health.
Yuka Nishioka
Research Interests: Social Prescribing, Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities
While working as a nurse in emergency medical care, I became interested in how social determinants of health affect patient’s diagnosis. My goal is contribute to create social system where everyone can live a healthy and peaceful life.
Nana Sakamoto
Research Interests: Social Epidemiology, Health Inequality, Health Indifference Group, Nudge
Have you ever found yourself saying, “I know it’s better for my health to do this, but I just can’t do it”? I have. My goal is to develop an approach that allows people to engage in healthy behavior without even trying to become healthy.
Akari Kitade
Reserach Interests: Women’s health, Work-life Balance, Maternal and Child Health, Work Environment, Health Disparities, Social Capital
I am focusing on the social determinants of work-life balance and health issues among women of the reproductive age.
I will continue pursuing the society that can empower more women.
Master’s students (1st Year)
Keiko Tsuji
Research Interests: Creating a Society Where Everyone Can Be Healthy Naturally, Life Course Approach, Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health, Disaster Crisis Management
As a public health physician, I aim to create a society where everyone can be healthy naturally. I am particularly interested in such fields as approaches to the health-insensitive population, community bonding, perinatal and child-rearing mental health, support for developmental disabilities, and health crisis management. I hope to contribute to society through these activities.
Kee Yamaguchi
Research Interests: Influence of Pandemic on Health Behaviour
Having completed my undergraduate studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, I developed a strong interest in how such global crises shape individual health behaviors, particularly changes in eating habits and weight management. I hope to contribute valuable insights that can inform more effective responses and preventive strategies in future pandemics.
Go Ueno
Research Interests: Social Determinants of Health, Social Prescribing, Advance Care Planning (ACP), Well-Being, Sustainability of Medical Care
While utilizing my experience in the field as a cardiovascular surgeon, I will flexibly switch between micro-, meso-, and macroscopic viewpoints and perspectives, and aim to create evidence that can serve as a foundation for Evidence-Based Policy-Making (EBPM) toward the realization of a society that supports the diverse well-being of each and every individual.
Yoshiyasu Hirabayashi
Research Interests: Social Determinants of Health, Social Isolation, Social Capital
I am interested in health risks arising from social factors, especially social isolation among workers. I would like to contribute to the realization of a society where each person can achieve the health which they desire by leveraging social capital and community.
Mikuni Yamae
Research Interests: Global/Planetary Health, Social Determinants of Health, Nudge
Thorough my work experience in Africa, I am interested in the barriers to health behaviour change and how we can create systems and environments that remove these barriers, based on my experience working in Africa.
Yilun Jiang
Research Interests: Social Prescribing, Social Determinants of Health, Older Adults, Health Disparities
I’m interested in social prescribing. I believe it is an innovative intervention that addresses mental disorders from a new perspective beyond medication and physical therapy. Through research in social epidemiology, I hope to enable everyone to live healthily and happily within their communities.
Collaborator
Mariko Kanamori
Research: Rural, Agriculture, Suicide, Gender relations, Social Determinants of Health, Social Epidemiology
Her research focuses on mental health issues in rural areas. Before entering graduate school, she worked as a clinical veterinarian for cattle in Hokkaido. She is majoring in social epidemiology because she believes that both cattle and people share a common way of living that depends on the state of society. She would like to contribute to a society where both people and animals can live healthy and happy lives.
Visiting Research
Yuki Arakawa
Research: Social Relationships and Mental Health, Online Medical Consultation, EBPM
He has been working as a doctor in a hospital since 2011, with a wide range of experience in medicine and surgery, specialising in patient care in the emergency department and intensive care unit. There he was confronted with social issues in the context of patients that could not be changed by medical treatment and went to graduate school to find solutions. He is interested in the study of human connections, especially those related to loneliness. He is now working with local authorities to develop evidence for policies that lead to better health for people.
Minami Sugimoto
Research: Nutritional Epidemiology, Dietary Assessment Methods, Diet-Related Environmental Impact, Sustainable Healthy Diets
Dr. Sugimoto is developing methodologies and analyzing data with the aim of identifying and encouraging dietary and eating behavior patterns that promote people’s health and do not impact the global environment.
Hisataka Anezaki
Research: Health Economics, Valuing Health Services, Health Check-Ups and Health Behaviour
Dr. Anezaki focuses on the valuing of medical services from the perspective of patients and users of medical services.
Yoko Matsuoka
Research: Post-Disaster Relocation, Changes in the Socio-Physical Environment, Mental Health, Social Participation
She is researching associations between changes in the socio-physical environment due to post-disaster relocation and the mental health of older adults living in areas affected by earthquakes.
Marisa Nishio
Research: Social Determinants of Health, Health Policy, Intrinsic Capacity, Global Health
Her research focuses on the development of new measures for older people’s health and of social environments that support individuals’ health.
Yoshiki Ishikawa
Yusuke Sasahara
Rikuya Hosokawa
Guest Researchers
Ibuki Ozawa
Takashi Miyashita
Research: Social Marketing
Itsuki Osawa
Aya Chiba
Kumi Sugimoto
Takuya Yamada
Sho Takeda
Research: Ikigai, Inequality Within a Community, Social Prescribing
Ayako Fujiwara
Yuuta Takemura
Guess Collaborators
Toshiaki Komura (PhD candidate at Harvard University)
Naoki Eguchi (Medical School – 3rd year)
Koharu Matsuda (Medical School – 5th year)
International Collaborators
Ayako Hiyoshi (Distinguished Visiting, Örebro University; invited for one month through the MEXT Top Global University Project)
Maria Amparo Oliver Germes (University of Valencia)
Jose Manuel Tomas Miguel (University of Valencia)
Sara Martinez Gregorio (University of Valencia)
Zaira Torres Romero (University of Valencia)
Yanzhang Li (Chengdu Medicall College)
Support Staff
Yoshi Asada Tokiko Ikeda Nanoka Ueda Kei Kondo Kaori Takaya Naoko Terada Miki Mita
History of our laboratory
- November, 2023
- Akira Kyan, appointed as Assistant Professor through a cross-appointment system
- October, 2023
- Akira Kyan, promoted to Associate Professor at University of the Ryukyus
- August, 2023
- Yukiko Honda, appointed as Assistant Professor
- May, 2023
- Akira Kyan, appointed as Assistant Professor
- April, 2023
- Keiko Ueno, appointed as from Research Fellow to Assistant Professor
- April, 2023
- Maho Haseda, appointed as from Assistant Professor to Lecturer
- April, 2023
- Kosuke Inoue, transferred from Assistant Professor to Hakubi Center and promoted to Associate Professor
- April, 2021
- Kosuke Inoue, appointed as Assistant Professor
- April, 2021
- Koryu Sato, appointed as from Research Fellow to Assistant Professor
- October, 2020
- Maho Haseda, appointed as Assistant Professor
- September, 2020
- Naoki Kondo, appointed as Professor
Activities of alumni in our laboratory
- September, 2024
- Shiho Kino, appointed as Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University， Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences， Biomedical Sciences and Engineering， Division of Oral Health Sciences， Department of Preventive Oral Health Care Sciences