May 18, 2010
Kyoto University Hospital hosted a completion ceremony for its new ward, the Sekitei Ward, which would become the base for cancer treatment. 170 people within and outside of the university attended the ceremony and cerebrated its grand opening.
Sekitei Ward that has just been completed was constructed as a result of receiving donation from the senior advisor of Nintendo Co., Ltd., Mr, Hiroshi Yamauchi. He wanted us to “construct a ward that is appropriate for Kyoto University Hospital,” knowing that we had a ward that was over 30 years old.
The ceremony began by the senior advisor Yamauchi, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Higher Education Bureau, Medical Education Section, University Hospital Support Manager Akira Tamagami, Kyoto Prefecture Governor Keiji Yamada, Kyoto City Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, Kyoto University President Hiroshi Matsumoto, Medical Research Division Dean Masao Mitsuyama, University Hospital Director Takashi Nakamura cutting of a ribbon by. Then, a tour around the ward commenced. The attendees were particularly fascinated with facilities, including the special rooms, the “cook-chill system,” which was employed by a national university’s hospital for the first time for ensuring food hygiene through rapid cooling/heating, outpatient chemotherapy zone and cancer information area.
The main ceremony took place in the Kyoto University Clock Tower Centennial Hall. First, the Hospital Director Nakamura thanked the Senior Advisor Yamauchi for his donation. Then, he stated that he and his staff would “consider the new ward as the base for cancer treatment, making it the place of new treatment aimed at defeating cancer and of developing doctors and co-medical staff for cancer treatment” in his ceremonial speech. Then, the President Matsumoto made his speech, stating, “The role of the hospital relating to social contribution, research and education is significant. I would like the university hospital to make every effort towards new fight and treatment of cancer.” After his speech, several congratulatory speeches with high expectations to the ward followed: from MEXT Higher Education Bureau Medical Education Section Chief Kazuhiro Araki read by University Hospital Support manager Akira Tamagami, from Kyoto Prefecture Governor Yamada read by Kyoto Prefecture Health and Welfare Department Chief Ryojun Asada, from Kyoto City Mayor Kadokawa and Kyoto Medical Association Director Yoichi Mori.
For the commemorative lecture, which took place afterwards, a Kyoto University graduate and current newscaster, Shuntaro Torigoe offered a lecture titled, “Facing Cancer,” speaking of his own experience to the audience of 400 people.
Cerebration party took place after the commemorative lecture and participants discussed about future healthcare development and the regional healthcare that the new ward must bear.
 Exterior of Sekitei Ward |
 (From left) Medical Research Division Dean Mitsuyama, Hospital Director Nakamura, President Matsumoto, Nintendo Senior Advisor Yamauchi, MEXT University Hospital Support manager Tamagami, Kyoto Prefecture Governor Yamada and Kyoto City mayor Kadokawa |
 (From left) Hospital Director Nakamura, President Matsumoto, Mr. Torigoe |