Raising the Bar for Japanese Medicine with Well-Curated, Reliable Medical Insights

- Mr. Utsui, please tell us why you decided to enroll in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Keio.

I chose to take the entrance examinations for the Faculty of Pharmacy because I dreamed of working in new drug development at a pharmaceutical company. The early loss of both my grandfathers to illness in their fifties was one of the reasons I first became interested in medicine in junior high school. Until then, all I cared about was baseball. I started to think that if only a new medicine had been developed, my grandfathers' lives may have been saved. Seeing the sorrow of people so close to me made me want to work in a field where I could save as many lives as possible. In Japan, pharmacy programs are usually found at specialized pharmacy colleges, but I chose to apply to Keio because it was a comprehensive university equipped with a diverse selection of faculties across several campuses. I wanted to spend my time at university broadening my horizons and getting to know many different people in the humanities and natural sciences, even as I pursued pharmacy.

I probably enjoyed student life on campus the most during my first year, which I spent at Hiyoshi Campus. Through clubs like tennis, I had the opportunity to interact with students from other faculties, and I took various courses in addition to my basic pharmaceutical education, which included subjects such as organic chemistry and life science. These experiences stood out in the sense of what it's like to study at Keio. Actually, I also have fond memories of a course in ethology, which refers to the study of animal behavior, as I had once also considered a career as a veterinarian.

- After your first year, you moved to Shiba-Kyoritsu Campus to pursue your pharmacy education in earnest.

We had four 90-minute classes every day, from morning until evening, and some days we had class until fifth period, so student life suddenly became hectic in my second year. Still, I joined the faculty’s light music club and worked part-time as a cram school teacher and convenience store clerk. People would ask me how I had time to sleep. [laughs] Looking back, I think I was only able to manage because I was confident in my physical stamina and was bent on achieving my goal of developing new drugs.

In my third year, I used my summer holiday to attend a short-term language school in the Philippines. The internships at pharmacies and hospitals from my fifth year onwards were quite demanding, but interacting with such a variety of patients deepened my understanding of a pharmacist's work. Still, my ambition was not to become a pharmacist but to seek work in areas such as new drug development. I was part of a course called "Regulatory Science of Pharmaceutical Development," where I worked on a research project to analyze the skills and qualities needed for clinical trial coordinators in new drug development. I've loved computers ever since middle school, so this kind of information science approach was one of my strong suits.

- Why did you choose to work at a publisher?

I was involved in planning and editing for the Shibagakuyukai, which is the Faculty of Pharmacy's student council, and the Graduation Album Planning Committee. Experiencing the joy of bringing those publications to life may have been one of my motivators. It wasn't long into my job search that I realized some publishers specialized in medicine and pharmaceuticals. I began thinking that I might be able to make general contributions to the world of medicine by ensuring information was conveyed accurately. I was still interested in working in new drug development at a pharmaceutical company, but as I learned more about the work of specialized publishers, including my current company, I became convinced that the world of medical media was somewhere I could witness a broader range of medical developments and was more in line with what I really wanted to achieve.

- Please tell us about your work at IGAKU-SHOIN.

My first assignment after joining the company was to edit the Japanese Journal of Nursing Administration, a monthly journal for head nurses and other nursing administrators. Given that our company often sought commissioned articles for our nursing journals, editors were able to exercise a great deal of discretion. I got to work under the mentorship of more senior colleagues, so it was a great place for me to hone my editorial skills. I gained a lot of experience as an editor despite my busy schedule, which included business trips to hospitals and other medical facilities around the country. Through my work, it became clear that, even within the same healthcare sector, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists each brought vastly distinct perspectives. Similarly, views also differed among nurses, depending on whether they worked in a hospital or provided home care. Being an editor in the field allowed me to see the reality of medical care for the first time, and I learned about the complexity of conducting interviews and effectively drawing out ideas from people.

I spent two years in the editorial division before I moved to book editing, where I edited four books over the course of roughly a year, one of them being Basics of Multivariate Analysis for Science in Nursing. Multivariate analysis is an analytical technique that analyzes the relationship between multiple data sets. As a student, I had always excelled at data science, so editing a book on the subject was particularly rewarding and engaging. Incidentally, spurred by my interests, I have earned the "Applied Information Technology Engineer" qualification, commonly obtained by professionals like system engineers, in addition to my certification as a pharmacist.

- After that, you were assigned to the Sales, Public Relations & Advertisement Division, which is where you are now.

Yes, as part of the team responsible for making the advertising and promotional materials for our magazines and books, I've had a hand in print advertising, video production, and online seminars. As a student, I was involved with the Shibagakuyukai and used to do video editing in my private time, so I was transferred with the expectation that I could put these experiences to good use. We make around 20–30 PR videos every year. I've handled everything from initial planning to directing and streaming live streams for authors and editors to promote their books. IGAKU-SHOIN started conducting online events even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which have been well received by medical professionals nationwide. Of course, while these online events serve as promotional tools for the company, I also believe that it's our duty as a specialized media outlet to enhance medical standards across Japan by distributing this information via the internet. Recently, younger staff have put their heads together to publicize information via social media. We aim to continue exploring unique ways to share information while embracing new digital advertising tools. While publishing is widely considered a declining industry, we can still assist hardworking individuals in health care by steadfastly delivering well-curated, reliable information. I'm determined to work hard to set IGAKU-SHOIN apart and live up to the expectations of our readers.

- The past three years have made the general public aware of the importance of reliable medical information.

That may be true. We have had the honor of inviting Dr. Shigeru Omi to be a lecturer for our online seminars. Dr. Omi is a leading expert in infectious disease control and public health and the chair of the government's subcommittee on COVID-19 measures (as of December 2, 2022). But even someone as unparalleled as Dr. Omi felt the challenges of risk communication during the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and even occasionally expressed his regrets on the issue. Hearing him speak, I felt a renewed admiration for his humanity and was touched by his eagerness to share his experiences in words without holding anything back. I believe that many healthcare professionals who attended the seminar share my sentiments. That reminds me—Dr. Omi studied at Keio University's Faculty of Law before attending medical school.

Because of this, since graduating, I have a newfound appreciation for the Keio tradition of shachu kyoryoku, the spirit of cooperation among the university community. And I still worry about who will win the annual Waseda-Keio Baseball Games, too. I stopped playing baseball in junior high, but I always loved the game, so I used to go to Jingu Stadium to cheer on the team as a student. In fact, my brother continued playing baseball and even competed against Keio as a pitcher for Rikkyo University. Now, I just play for fun on our corporate baseball team.

- Could you say a few final words to current students?

After becoming a working professional, I felt glad to have studied at a comprehensive university like Keio. I believe that "multiplication" is one of the things you need for fulfillment in life. What I mean to say is that when you have a profound interest in something other than your specialization, you can multiply your possibilities exponentially. In my case, this would look like "pharmacy x information science" or "pharmacy x media." Of course, you should never neglect your core expertise. Whether it's law, economics, or engineering, as long as you maintain your main focus, having another area of expertise will infinitely expand your possibilities. Another area of expertise does not have to be totally unrelated to your major field of study. It might even buck current trends. Stay true to what you find exciting and enjoyable, and challenge yourself. Your time as a student is the best opportunity to try new things, and Keio University offers the ideal environment for exploration. I would only add one more thing: I believe that English language skills will become increasingly important in the future, no matter what you choose to study. Take the time to hone your English language skills while you're a student. After all, language ability undeniably opens up more doors for you and your future.

- Thank you for your time.

*Alumni association organized by graduates of the former Kyoritsu Pharmaceutical University and Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy

Daisuke Utsui
Manager of PR Section 1, Sales, PR & Advertisement Division, IGAKU-SHOIN Ltd.

Daisuke Utsui graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy in 2015. That same year, he found employment at IGAKU-SHOIN Ltd., a leading Japanese medical publisher that issues approximately 150 books annually and 31 specialized magazines and journals that include monthlies, bimonthlies, and quarterlies. After working as a magazine and book editor, he moved to the company's PR Section 1 in the Sales, PR & Advertisement Division in 2018, where he is involved in advertising in the company's magazines and books as well as online seminars and promotional activities using video and social media. Beyond his qualifications as a pharmacist, Utsui holds a certification in applied IT, applying his tech skills to enhance the digital services and online seminar initiatives that IGAKU-SHOIN offers.

*This article originally appeared in the 2023 Summer edition (No. 319) of Juku.