INFOM 2023 brings together delegates from 10 nations 26 people participated in the Academic Workshop and Forest Therapy Walk in Tokyo, Japan. Unfortunately, about 20 Chinese applicants were unable to participate because they were unable to obtain visas to Japan.
Delegates from Australia, Canada, China, Croatia, France, Japan, Netherland, the Philippines, the Thailand and the USA gathered in Tokyo, Japan to participate in the international workshop on Forest Medicine.
On the first day, the participants received the following intensive scientific forest medicine lectures at Forest Inn Showakan in Tokyo.
https://www.okura-nikko.com/japan/tokyo/forest-inn-showakan/
Showa-no-Mori Akishima Tokyo 196-8601 Japan
https://www.showakan.co.jp/

ACADEMIC WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Chairperson: Prof. Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)
1. Introduction of INFOM
Michiko Imai, MD, PhD (President of INFOM)
2. Video: introduction of research projects supported by the Vehicle Racing Commemorative Foundation of Japan
Michiko Imai, MD, PhD (President of INFOM)
3. The history and new trends in Forest Medicine around the world
Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)
4. The effects of forest therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku) on the human immune system
Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)
5. The effects of forest therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku) on the human endocrine system
Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)
6. The effects of forest therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku) on the human autonomic nervous system
Qing Li, MD, PhD (Nippon Medical School, Vice-President of INFOM)
7. The effects of forest therapy (forest bathing/shinrin-yoku) on mental health
Norimasa, Takayama, Ph.D. (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute)
8. The current situation of forest therapy bases and forest therapists in Japan
Qing Li, MD, PhD
9. The new concept of forest therapy and forest medicine
Qing Li, MD, PhD

After the above lectures, oral presentations from international delegates also were conducted as follows:

Oral presentations

1. Relational Forest Therapy: ANFT ideas and Practices for Forest Therapy and its potential for soul encounters
   M. Amos Clifford, USA
2. Forest bathing in Thai tourism context
   Dararat Simpattanawong, PhD, Thailand
3. A systematic review and meta-analysis of current Forest Bathing practices, research, efficacy and funding in the USA
   Matthew T. Johnson, MD, MBA, USA
4. The current situation of forest therapy bases and forest therapists in Canada and Europe
   Bernadette Rey, Canada
5. Forest Bathing Ecosystem
   Masahiko Takai, Japan
6. Historical overview of the use of natural healing factors in Croatia based on the FT elements – from the Brestovac Pulmonary Clinic to Radoboj municipality with the first certified Shinrin yoku forest path in Croatia
   Aleksandar Racz, MD, Croatia

On the second day, the participants met in Hinoharamura village (https://hinohara-kankou.jp/forest_therapy/, Forest therapy base in Japan), Tokyo, to learn about the ongoing research on Forest Therapy/Forest Bathing/Shinrin-Yoku/Forest Medicine and to be trained on a certified Forest Therapy trail. The growing global popularity of “Shinrin Yoku” was evidenced by the large attendance at this year’s event.

The onsite training on the Forest Therapy trail in the Hinoharamura village (Forest therapy base in Japan), Tokyo was the highlight of Day 2 for all international delegates. The Forest Therapy session commenced with ‘forest breathing’ and stretching activities lead by Dr. Michiko Imai and Dr. Qing Li. “Shinrin Yoku activities must focus on all five senses for maximum benefit” Dr. Qing Li stated, as he guided the group. At the end of the two-hour Shinrin-Yoku, the group photo was taken under the large horse chestnut tree.



The workshop concluded with a presentation ceremony, during which delegates received their certificates in Forest Medicine from Dr. Michiko Imai and Dr. Qing Li.
After the ceremony, Dr. Qing Li announced the establishment of the INFOM China branch and France branch.
In the final remarks, Dr. Qing Li called for close collaboration between INFOM and stakeholders from countries represented, especially to maintain international standards on training and research in Forest Therapy.
After the seminar and workshop, a forest bathing tour was conducted to enjoy the forest therapy bases in Japan.

(Reported by Qing Li)