Asahikawa Medical University is a national university located in Asahikawa City in the Kamikawa Basin, almost in the center of Hokkaido.  The Daisetsu Volcanic Group and the Tokachi Volcanic group can be seen to the southeast, and the Kitami Mountains in the north are visible from the campus and they convey a sense of the vastness of Hokkaido.  Asahikawa, with a population of 325,000, is not a large city, but it is a beautiful and comfortable place to live.  Many visitors to Asahikawa and neighboring towns must be surprised at the quality of the air and water.  Our university is located on top of a hill about 15 minutes south of Asahikawa Station, and it is in a good location within 20 minutes of the airport.  Although Asahikawa might be considered less attractive due to the nationally famous cold weather during the winter months, living here turns out to be wonderful once encountering the charm of the amazing snowflakes and the diamond dust on particularly cold mornings.

Our university was established in November 1973 as one of the national medical universities created throughout the country under the “One Prefecture, One Medical School” policy to alleviate the shortage of doctors.  This year marks the milestone 50th anniversary.  The Nursing Course was established in 1996 and will soon celebrate its 30th anniversary.  So far, our university has produced a total of 6,301 graduates, 4,743 graduates from the Medical Course and 1,558 graduates from the Nursing Course.  They have been active not only in Hokkaido but also throughout Japan and around the world, contributing to the development of medicine, nursing, and medical care.  In addition, we have also produced a large number of excellent researchers. Many students in the Graduate School of Medical Science (Ph.D. Courses) and the Graduate School of Nursing Science (Master’s Course) are working day and night on their research.

Our university was established with the expectation of supporting and improving medical care in Hokkaido, and in the eastern and northern parts of Hokkaido in particular.  While social conditions surrounding our university have changed dramatically over the past 50 years, our most important mission remains the same: to heal the sick and protect the health of the people in local areas by training excellent doctors and nurses and providing high quality medical care.  Obviously, there is a limit to what we can do if we continue to do what we have done in the past.  We are now engaged in serious university-wide discussions on how to fulfill our mission.  Fortunately, our students and faculty members have traditionally had a school culture that highly values regional medicine.  I believe that if we all work together and pool our wisdom, we will surely be able to find unique and cutting-edge solutions.  By having been placed at a turning point of the times and been put to the test, our university has once again reached a stage where it literally "knows its destiny.”  We are determined to stand at the forefront and continue our efforts to save the local medical community from any crisis that might arise. We look forward to your continued support.

President
NISHIKAWA Yuji