2004
In November 2004, Asia Australia Mental Health hosted a high level delegation from Japan. Key members of the delegation included Dr.Ueda, Director General, National Institute of Mental Heath and Dr Tadashi Takeshima, Director, Department of Mental Health Administration, National Institute of Mental Health, Japan. The study tour explored the Victorian experience in mental health reform, in particular the engagement of public support for reform.
2005
In early March 2005, Asia Australia Mental Health hosted a further delegation from Japan led by Dr. Takeshi Samejima, President of Samejima Hospital, Head of the Private Hospital Owner Association of Japan and four other presidents of large private Japanese mental hospitals.
This delegation of leading hospital owners came to Melbourne to observe the Australian system and in particular to try to develop an understanding of how the loose partnership between governments, hospitals, universities and the community works to deliver a mental health service.
A/Prof. Chee Ng, Co-Director, AAMH, was invited to Japan to contribute to a roundtable discussion of the development of community mental health services in Japan.
2006
The Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Japan and six other hospital owners, hospital administrators and government officials visited Melbourne in February to discuss the planned move to community based mental health care in Japan. The visit was initiated as a continuation of the bilateral governmental Japan-Australia Mental Health Research Partnership.
2007
Japan is also actively involved in the Asia-Pacific Community Mental Health Development Project. Dr Yutaro Setoya, National Institute of Mental Health, Japan presented at the APCMHD Symposium held in conjunction with WPA International Congress in Melbourne in November 2007.
2008
In January 2008, A/Prof. Chee Ng was again invited toJapan to undertake a comprehensive review of their community mental health services. A/Prof. Ng's visit was supported by a Japanese Government Fellowship through the MHLW's Health and Labour Science Research Program. His report can be viewed on the the National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry's website in Japanese or English.
In August 2008, the Asia-Pacific Community Mental Health Development Project Summary Report [pdf, 2.57mb, 92 pages] was published. Japan's Editorial Team, led by Dr Tadashi Takeshima, contributed to the summary report and also provided a detailed report of Japan's community mental health services.