Street Medical Talks 2025: Bridging Healthcare and Design for Social Good

Street Medical Talks 2025: A Report on the Event

Introduction

On October 13, 2025, the Street Medical Talks 2025 event, organized by Look at People Inc. in Tokyo, took place, showcasing the culmination of the sixth cohort's training program. This unique presentation event brought together professionals from the fields of healthcare, design, and research to collaborate on solutions for societal challenges through the intersection of these disciplines.

Special Lecture

The event kicked off with a special lecture by Takanori Takebe, the president of the program, entitled "From Happiness to Health: The Future Targeted by Street Medical." He introduced the concept of enabling factors that encourage behavioral changes in everyday settings. Takebe discussed the relationship between happiness and health, emphasizing the vision of Gamagori City in Aichi Prefecture to create an 'Enabling City' where simply living contributes to one’s health.

Featured Speakers

The event hosted a range of notable speakers:

- Takanori Takebe (Professor at Osaka University Graduate School and Tokyo University of Science)
- Asei Machi (Freelance announcer and journalist specializing in healthcare and nursing)
- Naoki Yamamoto (Specialist at Japan Research Institute)
- Suguru Inoue (Specially appointed Professor at Yokohama City University and executive officer at Genova Inc.)

Also present were distinguished guests including the Vice Mayor of Gamagori, Hiroshi Nibetoshi, and officials from the City of Gamagori’s Well-Being Department.

Presentation by Graduates

The highlight of the day was the presentations from the sixth cohort of graduates, where seven teams introduced their innovative projects that fuse healthcare with design. The Astro Penguin Project—which focuses on decision-making support for ALS patients—was awarded the grand prize. Other projects included a women's retreat concept called "Lunar Phases: My Rhythm" and product development aimed at improving quality of life for hospitalized patients, all of which embodied the Street Medical philosophy of seeing the person beyond their illness.

Alumni and Guest Reports

Continuing the program, Mayu Inomura, a graduate from the third cohort and representative of Child Play Lab, shared her initiative for pediatric cancer patients called the "Adventure Box" play starter kit. Furthermore, Kaori Inoue, a liver specialist and graduate from the fifth cohort, presented on the implementation of her "Heart Protection" project in healthcare settings, showcasing tangible applications linking healthcare and design.

Closing Remarks

The event concluded with an interactive voting session involving attendees and mentors to select the best project. This collaborative effort highlighted new ways to connect healthcare, design, and local communities. Street Medical Labo continues to pioneer the fusion of education, research, and practice in healthcare and design as a societal platform.