Governor Koike Expresses Hope for Global Experts to Contribute to the Further Improvement of Disaster Medicine

At the opening ceremony of an international conference on disaster medicine held in Tokyo on May 3, Governor Koike expressed hope for experts to contribute to the further improvement of disaster and emergency medicine in the global community.

The 23rd Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine, held at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, was hosted by the Science Council of Japan and the Organizing Committee of the WADEM Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2025. The opening ceremony was also attended by Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko.

The governor said, “We are honored that the congress, where experts in emergency medicine and disaster health care gather from around the world, is being held in Tokyo.”

“I hear that every year, an estimated 160 million people worldwide are affected by natural disasters, with about 100,000 lives lost. Many lives have also been lost in wars, conflicts, and terrorism,” she pointed out.

“Because of such realities, the congress, at which global experts discuss and make research presentations on the governance of disaster health care systems, plays a large role. I hope that the experts who gathered here share their rich experiences, thus contributing to the further improvement of disaster and emergency medicine around the world,” the governor said, expressing her hope.