About

History

　Our laboratory has its roots in mental health and environmental health in the Faculty of Social Medicine at the University of Tsukuba, and has developed research topics in response to the needs of society in recent years.

October 2007	Appointed as Professor Ichiyo MATSUZAKI The name of the research group was named Occupational Psychiatry and Space Medicine Group.
	During his tenure, he began his tenure with the perspective of environmental health and mental health in the workplace. Focusing on mental health care for astronauts
	Commendation from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare for many years of contribution, Received a letter of appreciation from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Best Teacher Award in the School of Medicine, University of Tsukuba University of Tsukuba Outstanding Faculty Award
March 2025	Professor Ichiyo MATSUZAKI retires
April 2025	Professor Shin-ichiro SASAHARA appointed

Philosophy of Our Laboratory

　Our laboratory aims to solve the mysteries of mental health, and we work on feasible and familiar research themes one by one every day. Therefore, the research themes have been flexibly changing according to the needs of the times and the interests of each member. However, there is a consistent research philosophy. Research does not begin without curiosity, but the feasibility of research increases when there is an ideal to aim for, which is to make use of that curiosity for the benefit of the world.

　In our laboratory, we work on each research theme every day, with an emphasis on how we can contribute to society while respecting the curiosity of each individual. In addition, there is only so much you can do on your own, so a good cooperative relationship with those around you will expand the scope of your research. While being aware of these things, we are engaged in a wide range of activities by returning research results to society while working hard with each other so that we can make the most of our individuality.

With the aim of contributing to the world and the universe at large, we will strike a balance between the pursuit of the truth of solving the mysteries of mental health and the return of practical benefits in terms of how we can contribute to society, and we will show the future of university laboratories that can develop sustainably. We will actively incorporate innovations based on tradition and realize these philosophies one by one, so we hope that everyone who is interested will knock on the door of our laboratory.

April 1, 2025
Shin-ichiro SASAHARA

Faculty member

Professor Emeritus	Ichiyo MATSUZAKI
Professor	Shin-ichiro SASAHARA
Assistant Professor and Chief Medical Officer	Shotaro DOKI
Assistant Professor	Daisuke HORI
Project Assistant Professor	Yu IKEDA

Graduate students, medical specialists, and Alumni

Department of Mental Health (Department of Social Psychiatry)

　In our group, together with the Laboratory of Social and Psychiatric Health, we are in charge of the Department of Mental Health at the University of Tsukuba Hospital (Department of Social Psychiatry, formerly the Health and Hygiene Outpatient Department). In addition to education and research in social medicine, having a clinical site at the University Hospital also supports a wide range of activities that are noteworthy for the Group.

Department of Mental Health (Department of Social Psychiatry) Homepage

https://www.hosp.tsukuba.ac.jp/shinryouka/al.html

Social Contribution

　In our laboratory, we are working on the following social contributions as a good tradition inherited from our seniors.

Social Welfare Corporation Ibaraki Inochi no Telephone

　Since the late Dr. Hiroshi INAMURA, then an assistant professor of mental health at the University of Tsukuba’s Department of Social Medicine, we have been contributing to the activities of the social welfare corporation Ibaraki Inochi no Telephone as a suicide prevention activity for many years by utilizing our know-how in mental health care in the workplace.

Youth Health Center

　Since the late Dr. Hiroshi INAMURA, then an assistant professor of mental health at the University of Tsukuba’s School of Social Medicine, we have been contributing to support activities for young people’s mental health problems, such as school refusal and withdrawal, for many years by utilizing our know-how in mental health care in the workplace.

Tsukuba Science City Exchange Council

　Since the late Dr. Hiroshi INAMURA, then an assistant professor of mental health at the University of Tsukuba’s School of Social Medicine, we have been contributing for many years to activities that contribute to mutual collaboration among members, based on the internationality and future vision of the Tsukuba Research Circle, by utilizing our know-how in mental health care in the workplace.

Univeil Foundation

　Since the former professor Ichiyo MATSUZAKI, he has contributed to social welfare support activities in a society with a declining birthrate and an aging population by utilizing his know-how in mental health care in the workplace and mental health care during his long-term stay in space.

Let’s all be in the same wind (nickname: “Min-kaze”)

　Since the previous professor, Dr. Ichiyo MATSUZAKI, we have been contributing to projects in which doctors and staff work together with people with mental disorders such as depression, utilizing our know-how in mental health care in the workplace. In 2018, we received the 14th Lilly Award for Activities to Support the Independence of Persons with Mental Disabilities.