Miyako Otsuka, a first-year student in the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at the Interfaculty Initiative in Planetary Health, successfully completed her degree in September 2025. She presented her research at a WHO-hosted workshop held in Addis Ababa the same month, where her work attracted significant attention.
Her presentation focused on Japan’s National Public Health Agency (NPHA), specifically examining the legal frameworks and soft law (norms and agreements) that were necessary for establishing the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS). Through a combination of literature review and interviews, she shed light on the processes behind its formation.
A summary of her research is provided below.

To clarify the background behind the establishment of JIHS, publicly available documents were reviewed to identify the challenges recognized by the government and the measures deemed necessary. In addition, the role of amendments to existing legal systems and the enactment of new laws in realizing the intended functions of JIHS was examined. Interviews with relevant stakeholders provided further insight into the legal hurdles encountered and the conditions required for implementation.
The findings indicate that although the legal foundation for JIHS has been established, legal systems alone are insufficient. The harmonization of organizational cultures, along with sustained dialogue and mutual trust, emerged as essential elements especially for fostering effective collaboration between science and policy during the time of emergency. Looking ahead, the governance and legal framework of JIHS need to be continuously assessed through its practical operation and evaluation.

*Please note that this workshop has already ended.