We are very pleased to announce the first preview screening of our documentary film “Hope to these Hands: The Reality of ME/CFS,” produced and directed by filmmaker Seiji Arihara, at the TKP Shinagawa Conference Center Banquet Hall in Tokyo on October 22 at 1:30 p.m. (details below). “Hope in These Hands,” filmed between 2014 and 2017, is the first ME/CFS documentary to be produced by a patient association in Japan. We hope the film will be widely viewed both by medical professionals and the public.
Known mostly as “chronic fatigue syndrome” in Japan, ME/CFS has been called “myalgic encephalomyelitis” for 60 years, and is widely recognised as a neurological and immune disease internationally. While a recent Ministry of Health survey revealed that approximately 30% are severely ill patients who are close to bedridden, the situation of patients in Japan has remained hidden from society as they are rarely able to leave their homes. While it is still rare in Japan to find a doctor who can diagnose the disease, medical scientists around the world are now competing and collaborating with each other to advance research and to identify effective treatments.
After the screening, Dr. Takashi Yamamura (Director of Immunology at the National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry), a leading researcher and clinician on neurological and immune diseases who has started research on ME/CFS over the last two years, will give a talk about the current state of international ME/CFS research. Seisa University Vice President and former JMEA board member Dr. Miwako Hosoda will speak about patient advocacy, including about the activities of our Association.
Venue and Registration
Date: October 22 (Sunday) 13:30 – 16:30
Venue: TKP Shinagawa Conference Center, Banquet Hall 6G (one-minute walk from the JR Shinagawa Station Takanawa Exit)
The event is free of charge and open to all members of the public (seats: 80 persons; please register in advance by email to Japan ME Association (answertomecfs@gmail.com) with your name, affiliation, and phone or email contact information).
Event Program
Part 1: Film Screening, “Hope in these Hands: the Truth about ME/CFS” (60 minutes; Seiji Arihara, Director)
Remarks: Mieko Shinohara (President, Japan ME Association): The documentary film “Hope to These Hands: The Reality of ME/CFS”
Part 2: Discussion and Exchange (Q&A session)
Dr. Takashi Yamamura (Director of Immunology, NCNP)
Dr. Miwako Hosoda (Vice President, Seisa University; former board member of Japan ME Association)
Japan ME Association 