School of Rehabilitation Sciences

A Message from the Dean

Recovery of Functional Ability Through Rehabilitation Considerably Enhances the Quality of Medical Care

Changes in living environments and habits have led to a strong need for team medical care involving collaboration between highly educated professionals at various stages ranging from the acute phase to the recovery and community living phases. This is the result of complex diseases and a social structure with a low birth rate and progressive aging. When considering disease prevention, inhibition of disease progression, and prevention of relapse from the perspective of total care, improvement of rehabilitation that supports an individuals’ recovery of vital functions and enhances their quality of life (QOL) is of crucial importance.
The School of Rehabilitation Sciences aims to develop a rich sense of humanity in medical personnel, in order to provide rehabilitation care based on advanced medical technology and science. This is achieved through integrated education; cooperation between the disciplines of health, medical care, and welfare; and development of scientific expertise acquired via exposure to the curriculum of a medical university.

Physical Therapy

The Department of Physical Therapy provides a variety of course programs, offering the education stressing clinical skills and a progression of scientific knowledge. The curriculum includes how to design and implement various physical therapy regimens as well as specialized testing and other therapeutic measurement methods required in rehabilitation.
Furthermore, excellent communication skills, such as proper attitude and etiquette, help maximize the therapeutic relationship with patients. As programs expand, the available strategies for ensuring comprehensive communication skills can be provided through the different courses. The students develop a range of skills gained from the practicum and standardized patient communication. Local residents participate in daily lectures to participate with our students in order to asses interpersonal skills in individuals with disabilities.
The program produces highly skilled physical therapists who are able to participate in a multi-professional team through extensive training in the field of “healthcare, medical care, and social welfare” using the university’s extensive educational resources.

Occupational Therapy

“Occupation” refers to all activities in daily life (such as self-care skills), so that the type of support provided by occupational therapist varies. Occupational therapists practice in a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector settings; medical institutions, social welfare facilities, private home environment, schools, and workplaces.
In the early stages of training, students visit medical institutions and social welfare facilities in order to become occupational therapists who can implement and understand comprehensive medical care by experiencing cooperation between physical therapists, health-care workers, and other professionals.
Furthermore, by extensive study about support for social reintegration and employment of individuals with disabilities, students systematically learn the basics of rehabilitation and also the advanced skills for occupational therapy that provide a variety of approaches in the Department of Occupational Therapy.
Occupational therapy department also offers music therapy course. In addition to occupational therapy, this course aims to acquire knowledge and skills for utilizing clinical and therapeutic use of music for a variety of settings and populations. Upon completion, student receive a certificate from National Music Therapist Training Council.

Speech-Language-Hearing Therapy

The Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Therapy is designed for students who wish to become speech-language pathologists and audiologists. The curriculum covers the subjects required for national certification as well as addresses the study of the human mind from basic to clinical areas. In addition, our 4-year undergraduate program emphasizes on clinical training.
Since the revision of the national health plan, the demand for speech therapists has been increasing rapidly. Upon completion of the undergraduate program, students are eligible to take the examination for the national certificate of “Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist”. Students may continue their study on our Master’s program for more intensive clinical training and Doctoral program for further research.

Graduate School of Rehabilitation Sciences

We Aim to Scientifically Validate the Interventional Effects of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, and Train Highly Skilled Professionals in the Field of Rehabilitation

At the Graduate School of Rehabilitation Sciences, we view disease prevention (primary prevention), life-saving and inhibition of disease progression (secondary prevention), as well as prevention of disease recurrence (tertiary prevention) from the perspective of total care in the fields of health, medical care, and welfare. Moreover, we aim to train personnel who can practically and scientifically promote the application of intervention methods designed to enhance the vital functions and quality of life of patients.
A distinctive feature of the Graduate School of Rehabilitation Sciences is the pursuit of rehabilitation science as a discipline sharing the foundations of physical therapy and occupational therapy. We use the following three research fields as pillars for promoting education and research: anatomical functioning and pathological analysis, rehabilitation therapy, and community health living support.
We also established an educational environment in community medical institutions and facilities in order to train highly skilled professionals who will assume leading roles in medical teams providing high-quality rehabilitation using advanced expertise and skills in the fields of health, medical care, and welfare.