An academic hub for nurturing children’s mental health through a scientific lens

The challenges facing contemporary society

The landscape of children’s mental health has never been more complex. Rising prevalence of neurodevelopmental conditions, rapid transformation of digital media environments, deepening social isolation and inequality, increases in school refusal and bullying, and the psychological toll of natural disasters — contemporary society urgently calls for responses grounded in scientific evidence.

Meeting these challenges demands a genuinely interdisciplinary approach that transcends the boundaries between neuroscience, clinical medicine, psychology, and education.

The choice to unite five universities

Our graduate school is Japan’s only interdisciplinary graduate school, established through the collaboration of five universities:

The University of Osaka, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui.

Since its establishment in 2009, the school has worked under a distinctive “science–humanities fusion platform” to develop experts equipped with the advanced knowledge and skills needed to support children’s minds and development. In 2024, a master’s program was added, opening our doors to students who wish to begin their graduate studies directly after completing an undergraduate degree.

What makes our education distinctive

The defining feature of this school is learning that transcends geographical and disciplinary boundaries. Through active use of online learning environments, students across Japan can access the latest knowledge from all five universities in real time. Supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and other organizations, we translate research outcomes into practice across healthcare, education, and welfare, while also developing international research hubs in Asia — impact that continues to accelerate across borders.

Guided by scientific rigor and deep human understanding, we cultivate researchers, clinicians, and leaders who bring out the full potential of every child. We sincerely hope that the professionals this school trains will work together through domestic and international networks, contributing to the healthy development of all children.