Strategic Planning Bureau
I. Office of Government Affairs, Strategic Planning Bureau
Tatsuya Suzuki, Tatsunori Shimoi, Nobuko Ushirozawa, Yayoi Ando, Munehiro Ito, Saho Wada, Toshio Miyata
The Team and What We Do
Our team monitors relevant governmental committees and conferences, reporting updates to the board of directors, director's meeting, and the center-wide management meeting.
Education
Through secondments to and from central governmental agencies and affiliated organizations, including the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, our staff gain expertise on policy monitoring and advocacy.
Future Prospects
Working with individual units, we will strengthen the center's advocacy, responding to policy formation processes on the part of the government as appropriate.
II. Office of Public Relations, Strategic Planning Bureau
Takaaki Tsuchida, Miyako Horikoshi, Yumi Kitada, Ochi Natsumi, Reina Kyo, Reiko Uokawa, Toru Kishida, Nobuki Fukase, Yuka Takahashi, Shin Kobayashi, Shingo Sakashita, Eriko Nakamura, Kaori Nakamura, Takako Nishimura, Yuka Mizukami
Introduction
The Office of Public Relations was established in April 2013 as a branch of the Strategic Planning Bureau under the supervision of the President of the National Cancer Center (NCC). A full-time staff member was added in April 2014. Our responsibilities include managing the NCC website (https://www.ncc.go.jp) and social media channels (Facebook, YouTube), publishing reports, and handling press conferences and press releases. By sharing the mission and vision among staff across the NCC, we aim to communicate information about the Center’s most notable activities in cancer care, research, screening, prevention, and policymaking.
The Team and What We Do
The Public Relations Planning Section in Tsukiji and the Public Relations Section in Kashiwa work closely together, coordinating policies and making prompt decisions to ensure operations are carried out efficiently and accurately. The key activities prioritized in FY2024 include:
- Providing Information to the Media
Research achievements and initiatives were shared with the media through press releases and research updates. The number of such activities has grown annually: 57 in FY2022, 81 in FY2023, and 95 in FY2024. Efforts were made to present information in ways that are easily understandable to journalists. - Utilization of Social Media and Video
With the diversification of media, we have increasingly used social media and video alongside the official website. The official YouTube channel reached 33,000 subscribers. In line with the catch-up vaccination program for cervical cancer, information on cervical cancer and vaccines was shared with eligible individuals and their guardians, and this was also covered in the media. - Publication of Public Relations Magazines
For patients, we published "hibiho," and for healthcare professionals, the NCC Newsletter. Selected content from these publications was also featured as online columns on the official website, with additional outreach through social media. - Training for Staff
Staff received training on the Medical Advertising Guidelines and on methods for updating the official website.
Outcomes
‒ 67 press releases, 20 research updates, 8 reference information items, and 14 press conferences/briefings
‒ 2 media seminars
‒ 308 media interview responses; 3,885 media coverage articles
‒ Official website: approx. 32.59 million annual page views
‒ Official YouTube: 1.867 million views, 89,000 total watch hours, 33,000 subscribers, 186 videos uploaded (as of March 2025)
‒ Official Facebook: 208 posts, total reach of 94,000
‒ Publication of "hibiho" and NCC Newsletter
‒ Publication of corporate and departmental brochures, etc.
Future Prospects
As the use of generative AI continues to grow, we anticipate a potential decline in website traffic. Therefore, it is important to provide information that AI can reliably reference, while further leveraging social media alongside our website. To achieve this, we aim to develop the necessary skills and systems.
III. Development, Office of Public Relations, Strategic Planning Bureau
Takaaki Tsuchida, Atsushi Takano, Naoko Takahashi, Maiko Tanahashi, Anna Ishida, Kouichi Katabami, Kaho Fujisawa
The Team and What We Do
We receive limited funding from the Japanese Government, which accounts for below 10% of our total cash inflow. Currently, the NCC’s main sources of cash flow are revenues from medical services, cancer research, and clinical trials. It is vital to diversify revenue sources to make the NCC’s financial position stable over the long term. As one of the alternatives, we look for sustainable growth in donation revenue from the NCC supporters.
What We Achieved in FY2024
The donation revenue in FY2024 was 252 million yen, with a total of 1,743 donations. Although the income was lower than in the previous year, the number of donations reached a record high. Donation income varies greatly from year to year, depending on factors such as the presence or absence of large bequests. However, the number of donations has increased steadily since FY2015, primarily due to an expanded donor base that includes not only NCCH/NCCHE patients but also other sectors.
What We will Do – Priorities in FY2025
We will focus on the following measures:
1. To further diversify the donors’ portfolio, we intend to reach out not only to NCCH/NCCHE patients and their families, but also to all those who support NCC's philosophy of “NCC is committed to delivering the best possible treatment and prevention to all people through collaboration with society.” We will continue to conduct publicity about the reason why we need funding and how it is spent, following the launch of “The National Cancer Center Foundation” in 2020.
2. To encourage legacy giving for future cancer research from senior upper-middle class people who are interested in philanthropy, we will continue to seek collaboration with professionals in that field, including NPOs that support legacy giving, lawyers, tax accountants, and trust banks.
IV. Office of International Affairs, Strategic Planning Bureau
Wakako Toga, Kazuko Ohara, Shuichi Tsukijihara, Mitsuko Otani, Miwa Tokumoto, Mamiko Horiuchi, Sachiko Kaneko, Madoka Yagihashi
Introduction and What We Do
The Office of International Affairs (OIA) has been advancing initiatives in research and development, clinical practice, and policy to further strengthen international collaboration and competitiveness. To enable these efforts, organizational and structural frameworks have been reinforced.
Achievements
Key achievements in FY2024 include:
1. Expansion of International Collaboration
- A total of 41 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed with 36 institutions, enhancing partnerships with international organizations and overseas academia.
- A delegation from the NCC Japan visited the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), engaging in discussions with the NCI Director and pediatric cancer research leads, resulting in a mutual agreement to strengthen collaboration in cancer research.
- Following the visit of the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, the NCC Hospital and the Institute for Cancer Control initiated the application process for designation as a WHO Collaborating Center. (Note: official registration was completed in April 2025.)
- Our President and the Director of the Research Institute attended the Quad Cancer Moonshot Launch ceremony held in the United States, fostering relationships with high-level representatives from each country. As one of the follow-up actions, an agreement was reached with Cancer Australia on future collaboration in rare cancer research.
2. Global Engagement and Capacity Building
- Following the SUCCESS project, NCC Japan agreed to contribute to a cervical cancer screening initiative led by Expertise France and funded by Unitaid. NCC Japan also participated in the APEC Cervical Cancer Elimination Conference.
- A total of 46 visits were received from overseas institutions, including high-level figures such as the Chief Scientific Adviser of the UK Department of Health and Social Care, the Thai FDA, the Philippine Minister of Health, and the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission. These visits contributed to deepening mutual understanding and facilitating meaningful exchanges.
- NCC Japan has continued to support observership programs for international medical professionals, welcoming 205 trainees and visiting researchers in FY2024. (See Tables 1-4 for details.)
3. International Leadership
- NCC Japan participated in the G7 Cancer initiative led by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa), jointly co-leading the Working Group on Refractory Cancers with INCa.
- At the G7 Cancer initiative, a rotational system for chairmanship and secretariat functions was agreed to begin in 2026. The NCC Japan actively contributed to discussions aimed at creating future leadership opportunities. (Note: It was later confirmed that the NCC Japan will assume the role of chair and secretariat starting in June 2026.)
4. Enhancing Global Standing and Strategic Capacity
- Four physicians were dispatched overseas under the international dispatch program, and continuous support was provided by the OIA for 137 international collaborative research projects. For details on individual research collaborations, please refer to the reports from each department.
- To formulate and implement a long-term international strategy, the organizational structure of the OIA was reinforced. In addition, to strengthen global outreach, the content of the official NCC Japan’s English website was revised and new social media channels were launched.
Future Prospects
To translate NCC Japan’s cancer research capabilities into tangible advances in cancer treatment and prevention, collaboration with a diverse range of global stakeholders, including international organizations, academic institutions, and industry partners, is essential. By demonstrating leadership in international collaboration, our cutting-edge science and talent can make a meaningful impact on global cancer care and prevention. The Office of International Affairs will continue to pursue strategic and proactive efforts to create opportunities that enable this contribution.
Table 1: Number of International Trainees and Researchers in FY2024 (by Country/Region)
Table 2: Number of International Trainees and Researchers in FY2024 (by Department of NCC Hospital)
Table 4: Number of International Trainees and Researchers in FY2024 (by Department of Others)