IME in Japan

Posted by: Elsbeth Headley

Introduction

I recently travelled to Tokyo for the JAPhMed annual meeting and came away with a clear insight: while IME continues to grow globally, Japan is at a pivotal moment in its development.

The opportunity?

Building a local CME accreditation system that can help accelerate high-quality education for healthcare professionals. Encouragingly, progress is already underway, with Aya Takemoto Tokaji contributing to an upcoming white paper on the topic.  Stay tuned for the forthcoming publication.

At the meeting, Springer Health+ was proud to contribute through our exhibition presence and a lunchtime seminar. Alongside Reiko Lemola and Kayo Watanabe, I shared perspectives on IME fundamentals, accreditation systems, and examples of successful global and local programmes.

The response was incredibly positive

With more than 91% of attendees rating the session as moderately or extremely informative—strong evidence of the growing interest in IME across Japan.

However, what stood out most were the people. From colleagues across editorial and sales teams to clinicians and industry supporters, every conversation reinforced the enthusiasm and commitment to advancing medical education.

My biggest takeaway?

Japan has tremendous potential to become a leading force in IME. I’m excited to see what comes next and grateful to everyone who made the visit so memorable. Arigatō! 😀