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Japan Forward
7 days ago
- Health
- Japan Forward
Rehabilitation in Ukraine Gets a Boost from Japanese Robotics
このページを 日本語 で読む As the outcome of the war between Ukraine and Russia remains uncertain, a new initiative has begun to support wounded Ukrainians using Japanese medical technology. The effort involves helping individuals with brain injuries from bombings or gunfire relearn how to walk using a lightweight robotic walking aid. Professor Emeritus Rui Yuge of Hiroshima University and his team developed the device. In Ukraine, many doctors are among those conscripted. Strained by staff shortages, this "Hinomaru medical technology" is making a vital contribution to the medical system. At one of Ukraine's largest rehabilitation centers in Lviv, a 31-year-old man slowly made his way down a corridor, gripping a cane in his right hand. He had been shot at close range by a Russian soldier and suffered a severe trauma to the right side of his head. The injury left the left side of his body paralyzed and confined him to a wheelchair. But on this day, something remarkable happened. Within ten minutes, his pace quickened, and he was soon walking without the cane. Strapped to his left ankle was a lightweight robotic device called a RE-Gait. Jointly developed by Dr Rui Yuge and a team at Waseda University, the RE-Gait walking assist robot uses a motor to support ankle movement, helping users regain independent mobility. Made from carbon fiber, it weighs just one kilogram. "We designed it to be both effective and as light as possible," Yuge said. The RE-Gait device can be customized via tablet to match each patient's unique gait. This makes it suitable for a wide range of conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and knee osteoarthritis. It supports natural foot movement, such as lifting the toes and landing on the heel, while helping the brain relearn proper walking mechanics. This reduces abnormal patterns and promotes functional recovery. Dr Rui Yuge, Professor Emeritus at Hiroshima University (right), stands with Ukrainian physician Liubov Koloshynska (©Sankei by Nobuhiko Yamaguchi). Since its domestic launch in 2016, Japanese medical institutions have used RE-Gait in more than 1,000 cases across. "When patients use RE-Gait for rehabilitation several times a week, they gradually develop a proper walking form," says Dr Yuge. His decision to support war-torn Ukraine, under Russian invasion since February 2022, was partly shaped by his personal experience. Around 25 years ago, Yuge studied abroad in Canada. It was an experience that deepened his appreciation for international cooperation and cross-border medical support. "I received a scholarship to study abroad, and it was Ukrainians at the university who supported me during that time," Dr Yuge recalled. "When I saw what was happening in Ukraine after the invasion, I felt compelled to give back using the technology I've developed." Together with a Georgian neurosurgeon and an international NGO, he began exploring ways to provide direct support. In April 2025, he donated two RE-Gait units to the rehabilitation center in Lviv. "We've already received feedback that many patients are using the device," he said. "It's easy to use, and it delivers results quickly." Before the donation, Ukrainian physician Liubov Koloshynska traveled to Japan to receive training on the device. She explained that patients from other destroyed medical facilities had been relocated to their center, leading to a severe staffing shortage. Technologies like RE-Gait, she added, have been an enormous help in managing the increased demand. With conflicts affecting people worldwide, Dr Yuge hopes this initiative can go further. "I want to expand this support beyond Ukraine, working in partnership with governments and other organizations," he said. Author: Nobuhiko Yamaguchi, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
The Mainichi
31-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Japan golfer who started at 29 heading for Deaflympics
OSAKA -- A golfer with hearing difficulties representing Japan in the upcoming Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics international games saw his life turned around when he started playing the sport completely by chance. Nobuyuki Fuchi was 29 when he was invited one day by his colleague at Himeji City Hall, who had also been his junior high school classmate, to go golfing after one of the original players canceled at the last minute. The now 48-year-old had never played golf before, thinking that it was a "rich people's sport." Fuchi mainly paid attention to the wild animals he encountered on the course that day -- deer, squirrels and rabbits. The turning point, however, came three months later, when he was invited again to play golf by the same former classmate. "You suck. Where do you think you're aiming?" Fuchi heard the colleague's half-joking insult loud and clear through his hearing aid. This sparked Fuchi's competitive nature. After that day, his life began to revolve around golf -- going to a driving range on weekdays after work and inviting his wife to play rounds together on days off, hoping the sport would become a shared hobby. Fuchi never received any coaching, but studied the sport by watching professional golfers on TV when tournaments were aired. "I just followed (professional players') examples," he reflects. Hearing disabilities an 'advantage' in the world of golf Fuchi began having difficulty hearing at the age of 5. Due to the side effects of medication he took, he developed severe hearing loss. He now can only hear faintly, even if someone shouts loudly right next to his ear, and lives with the help of hearing aid. He also reads people's lips to understand what they're saying. He attended regular schools growing up, and from junior high through university, played table tennis in school clubs. There were times Fuchi was bullied because of his hearing disabilities, but he never let it get him down, thinking, "This is just part of who I am." In the world of golf, he even considers having difficulty hearing a kind of "advantage." Because Fuchi can't hear the sound of the ball being hit, it's harder for him to judge the feel of the shot. However, since golf is a sport that requires deep concentration in silence, many golfers dislike even the slightest noise from their surroundings, and he says the inability to hear allows him to immerse himself in his own world. Grateful to know his passion Fuchi's encounter with deaf golf came four years ago. Learning that the Deaflympics would be held in Tokyo, Fuchi became interested, thinking, "Maybe I can carry the Hinomaru (Japanese flag) myself." But at the time, he didn't know how one could participate in such an event. Then, out of the blue, he received a direct message on his social media account: "If you're interested in deaf golf, how about giving it a try?" It was from someone affiliated with the Japan Deaf Golf Association who had seen him enjoying golf on social media. Fuchi became an association-designated athlete and went on to place eighth at the World Deaf Golf Championships held in Australia in August 2024. The following month, he came in second in the Japan Deaf Golf Championship, securing his spot in the Deaflympics in November this year. When he told the former classmate and colleague who first got him into golf about his Deaflympics selection, they quipped, "That's thanks to me." Fuchi no longer feels the need to prove himself -- instead, he's grateful to that friend for introducing him to the sport he is so passionate about. When he started playing 20 years ago, Fuchi never imagined competing in the Deaflympics, but he is beginning to embrace his role as a representative of Japan. "Compared to the Olympics and Paralympics, the Deaflympics are much less known. I want people to know that there's a competition where athletes with hearing impairments gather. My goal is to place in the top eight." With that determination, Fuchi looks forward to the tournament.
