Anastasia Fadeeva, one of our current cohort of Data Impact Fellows, reflects on her short-term placement at Chiba University and Kyoto University in Japan.
In October 2025, I used my UK Data Service Data Impact Fellow grant to support a short-term placement at Chiba University and Kyoto University in Japan.
Chiba University
I chose Chiba University because of The Centre for Preventive Medicine, which brings together several departments working on population health and has a strong focus on studying the ageing population and promoting healthy ageing. One of the departments is the Division of Social Preventive Medical Sciences, led by Dr Atsushi Nakagomi.
Anastasia in Chiba campus with Dr Masamichi Hanazato (top left, third), Dr Atsushi Nakagomi (top right, third), and researchers from both the Department of Healthy Cities and Built Environment and the Division of Social Preventive Medical Sciences.
“Soft environment” research
Dr Nakagomi’s lab focuses on social inequalities and the importance of social capital (“soft environment”) for promoting health and well-being. For example, researchers in the lab have explored how eating together supports mental health, examined whether community-level social participation can prevent hypertension in later life, and measured the associations between digital gaming and health and well-being in older people.
To understand how to support healthy ageing and study social determinants of health in later life, the lab runs the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES).
This large, ongoing panel survey has been led by Professor Katsunori Kondo since 1999. It collects data from people aged 65 and over every two years and has grown significantly-from just two municipalities in the first wave to 76 in 2022. The survey has two parts, including core questions and thematic questions. The core questions are asked of all participants in every wave, while thematic questions are distributed randomly to subsamples.
“Hard environment” research
I also visited the Department of Healthy Cities and Built Environment, led by Dr Masamichi Hanazato, which focuses on the role of urban design (“hard environment”) in promoting health.
This was both a new research area for me and an inspiring one.
For instance, researchers in the lab have studied how the characteristics of the entrance area of homes are linked to depression, how proximity to a fresh food store reduces nursing care costs, and how shopping mall spaces can be used for walking interventions. It was fascinating to see how thoughtful urban planning can contribute to healthier and more active lives.
Sumida lab
Another visit took me to the Sumida Lab in Tokyo, led by Dr Noromichi Suzuki.
Their research examines how built environments can promote well-being, for instance, determining optimal indoor temperature, humidity, and light conditions to improve sleep or support concentration when studying or working. Another area of their work focuses on the early identification of dementia, using motion detection to analyse everyday household activities such as cooking.
Kyoto University and violence prevention research
I also had the opportunity to visit Kyoto University, where I met Dr Chie Koga, an inspiring researcher who is interested in violence prevention. Dr Koga’s research interests closely align with mine, and she has used JAGES data to study violence and abuse in older age. Our discussion was insightful and stimulating, and we explored possibilities for future collaboration.
It was useful, during my placement, to have the opportunity to present my own work, share information about the VISION consortium, and discuss potential joint projects with Japanese colleagues.
It was useful to learn about the JAGES and the information it collects in relation to violence and abuse, determinants of health, and health outcomes. The tool can be used to further explore the associations between violence and abuse and a cross-comparative study between Japan and the UK.
A glimpse of Japan
This was my first time in Japan, and I was absolutely captivated by the country, its nature, culture, people, and cuisine.
I enjoyed a traditional Japanese lunch and Japanese BBQ dinner shared with my placement hosts. I rode the world’s longest suspended monorail in Chiba. I visited beautiful gardens, castles, shrines, and temples in both Kyoto and Tokyo. I learned about samurai, ninja, and geisha (or geiko) traditions in Kyoto and took part in a matcha tea brewing class!
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to undertake this placement. I hope it will lead to future collaborations with colleagues at Chiba University, particularly using JAGES data. I also look forward to welcoming Dr Koga and others to the UK and to the Violence and Society Centre in the future.
Anastasia in the Sumida Lab in Tokyo, led by Dr Noromichi Suzuki (far left).
Perspectives of Engagement and Impact: A UK Data Service Early Career Researchers event
If you’re interested in hearing more about Anastasia’s research, her background, and her time in Japan, you’ll have the chance to meet her in person at Perspectives on Engagement and Impact: an event for Early Career Researchers taking place on 11 February 2026. You can find out more about the event and get your tickets here.
About the author
Dr Anastasia Fadeeva is a Research Fellow in Health Sciences based at the Violence and Society Centre, City, St George’s University of London.
She works full-time for the Violence, Health and Society (VISION) research consortium. Her research focuses on using health surveys and administrative data to measure violence prevalence and trends, as well as related risk factors and health harms.
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