2. After years of contribution to IFMSA, IFMSA- IFMSA-Japan and the MM2012 OC are
Motivation letter Japan takes a big step forward and proudly
applies to host the March Meeting 2012 in
very motivated to hold March Meeting
2012, so we hope that you support our
Japan.There are several reasons why Japan candidature.
is suitable for hosting the IFMSA March
Dear IFMSA friends, We welcome the IFMSA friends, and are
Meeting 2012.
really looking forward to seeing you in
It is a great honor and a pleasure for us to
The first reason is that Japan is one of the Japan, the land of hospitality. We
present our candidature for hosting the
most fascinating countries blessed with promise you it will be one of the most
61st IFMSA General Assembly March
natural beauty, and with unique culture and unforgettable General Assemblies the
Meeting 2012.
modern technology coexisting in harmony. IFMSA has ever had.
In 1961, the first Japanese medical student Japan has recently been attracting more
tourists from all over the world. Also, Japan is Sincerely,
joined the IFMSA General Assembly in
Israel. He was deeply impressed by strongly one of the safest countries and we can
motivated students from all over the world. promise you a safe GA.
After coming back to Japan, he
The second reason is our experience at the
established the Japan International
international level. We have the great
Medical Students’ Association (JIMSA), the
experience of holding the Asia Pacific
forerunner of the International Federation
Regional Meeting 2007 in Osaka, which was
of Medical Students’ Associations Japan
very successful. Also, IFMSA-Japan has
(IFMSA-Japan).
constantly been sending delegates to IFMSA
11 years ago, we had a structural GAs, and had 4 members in IFMSA Team of
Officials in our relatively short history. Motoko Kametani
reformation to establish IFMSA-Japan,
aiming to show our commitment to the President of Organizing Committee of
Thirdly, there are strongly motivated OC
international community of medical March Meeting 2012 Japan
members with extensive experience in
students. Since then, IFMSA-Japan has
managing and organizing events and we
been active in various fields such as
have already been working hard to arrange
student exchange, public health, human
the March Meeting 2012 in Japan.
rights and peace, medical education and
reproductive health both at the national For the venue and accommodation, we
and the international level. chose APA HOTEL & RESORT Tokyo Bay
Makuhari. It takes only 30 seconds to go to
Now we are by far the largest nationwide
the venue from the hotel. The hotel is
organization of Japanese medical students
located in Makuhari area in Chiba
with 51 local committees and still trying to
prefecture, which is near 2 international
involve more students and medical
airports. It is nice venue and Taiki Nabekura
faculties for better representation of
accommodation so we are sure that you
medical students all over Japan. President of IFMSA-Japan
can enjoy your stay in Japan.
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6. Description of the facilities Venue
APA HOTEL & RESORT Tokyo Bay Makuhari is equipped with Tokyo
Bay Makuhari Hall, which has the largest dining hall in Tokyo Bay
Area.
The capacity of main hall is 3000 people and it can be
partitioned into up to 11 sections according to group size and
purpose.
The hotel also has a number of conference rooms, which can be
used for SCO sessions, trainings, and theme events.
The most remarkable point is it takes only 10 seconds to the hall
from the accommodation!
We have worked hard to find appropriate
accommodation and venue for hosting the precious
meeting in Japan.
We proudly announce that we made provisional contract
with APA HOTEL & RESORT Tokyo Bay Makuhari located on
the center of Chiba, which is near from two international
airports.
In addtion, the hotel is 5 minutes away from Kaihin
Makuhari station on foot. Using a train, it takes 30 minutes
to the center of Tokyo, and 15 minutes to Tokyo Disney
Resort.
And there are various kinds of restaurants around Kaihin
Makuhari station.
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7. Accommodation Other features:
APA HOTEL & RESORT Tokyo Bay -Large Public Bath
Makuhari is the highest hotel building
which stands 50 stories high designed The entire 4th floor is a grand bath hall
by Kenzo Tange who is world-famous equipped with sauna and open-air
bath. You can experience Japanese
architect.
style spa and be refreshed.
The guest room pavilion that fronts
Tokyo Bay has 1001 rooms, all of which -Convenience store
command ocean views. There is a convenience store in the
Among those guest rooms, we have hotel, which is open 24 hours a day. You
reserved 400 rooms for greeting 800 can get most household goods,
participants. Of course, there is free beverages, and snacks.
Internet access in all rooms.
-Night view
As stated above, the hotel is very
convenient in terms of transportation. You can enjoy fantastic night view from
It is 40 minutes away from Narita Sky Banquet on the 46th floor.
International Airport and 50 minutes
away from Tokyo International Airport -Comics and internet café
by car.
There is a comics and Internet café on
In order to conserve the environment the 48th floor. There are 10,000 comics
APA HOTEL is doing some challenging and various drinks. You can find a lot of
that aim to reduce CO2. interesting Manga, one of the most
unique cultures in Japan, there.
We are strongly sure that you can
enjoy your stay in Japan!
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8. Makuhari, Chiba Other highlghts of Chiba
Chiba is the next city to Tokyo, which takes about 40
minutes by train. And Chiba is home to one of the largest -Narita-san Shinshoji
convention facilities in the East. Chiba is the "town of Temple
flowers" where you also can enjoy dining and shopping. The Nio gate, three-story
Furthermore, an outlet park and shopping center also pagoda, and Shaka-do at
welcome you. the temple have been
And the bay area Makuhari is located on 40 minutes away designated as important
from Narita Airport by bus. cultural assets by the
national government. More
This area can be enjoyed in various ways: You can play on -Tokyo Disney resort
the beach at Chiba Port Park and feel the atmosphere of Tokyo Disney resort consists of
a port town at Chiba Port. In Inage-kaihin-koen Park, the Disneyland Park, DisneySea
Aviation Memorial Park and the Floral Museum are open Park, three hotels and a
for visiting, and you can also enjoy cycling with rented shopping complex. You can
bicycles, experiencing a yacht voyage. have fun, dine, shop, and
much more at Tokyo Disney
Resort.
Chiba city can provide
special discount coupons to
Tokyo Disney Resort (for use
at Tokyo Disney Land and
Tokyo Disney Sea) for
participants of MM2012.
IFMSA 61st General Assembly
March Meeting 2012
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9. Theme proposal
For the theme of MM2012, the organizing committee Secondly, it will have been 10 years since the United Nation’s
proposes Healthy Aging. This theme is chosen because Second World Assembly on Aging, which was significant in
of its growing importance for all IFMSA members, as terms of policy making and planning action at a global level. It
future health professionals, in both the developed and will be a good opportunity for us to review what has been
developing parts of the world. done for the past decade. Also, the European Commission has
proposed that 2012 be designated as the “European Year for
Population Aging Active Aging”. By having this theme in MM2012, the IFMSA can
The world is experiencing unprecedentedly rapid work on this agenda through workshops and sessions, the
population aging. This dynamic phenomenon is outcome of which can be worked on more by publishing
affecting both developed and developing countries; as policy statements and working with different NGOs, or other
it has already been a great challenge for the international institutions through the year.
developed world while 70% of all older people live in Proposed topics regarding the theme
low or middle-income countries. Although the
demographic trend varies in levels of intensity, patterns - Social security systems: pension,
and time frames, every country will face population health care, insurance
aging in the near future. Moreover, all of us will grow old
one day. - Healthy lifestyle for better aging
Population aging brings the society a necessity of - Longevity and advancement in
changes in social security systems, such as pension, medicine and public health
health care, and other social benefits. Health is one of - Sexual health of the elderly
the major issues affecting aging population, as the
elderly people are more vulnerable to illnesses and - Aging population and low birth
more likely to be marginalized in health care systems. rate
Why in MM2012 Japan? - Rehabilitation
Firstly, the population of Japan is aging faster than any - Intergenerational equity in health
other country in the world. People aged 65 or older care
accounted for 21 percent of the total population in
2005. The life expectancy rate is the highest in the world, - End-of-life care Image: Simon Howden
at 81.25 years of age as of 2006. FreeDigitalPhotos.net
9
10. In order to attend March Meeting 2012 in If you are a citizen of one of the following
Japan, you must apply for a short-term stay countries, you don’t need a visa:
(A stay of up to 90 days) visa.
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria,
Visas are issued in the Japanese embassy or Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia,
consulate in your country. Visas cannot be Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador,
obtained after arriving in Japan. Estonia, Finland, The former Yugoslav
Application fees must be paid for the Republic of Macedonia France,
issuance of visas. The fees are about 3,000 Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary,
yen for a single-entry visa. Fees are collected Iceland, Israel, Italy, Korea, Latvia,
in the currency of the country (territory) of Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico,
which the Embassy / Consulate General is New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
located. Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The
Depending on your nationality, fees may not
Netherlands, Tunisia, Turkey, United
be required or may be a different amount.
Kingdom, United States
If you are a citizen of one of the following
For further information, please visit Ministry of
countries, you must obtain a visa:
VISA information Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan,
Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon,
Libya, Mongolia, Montenegro,
Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman,
Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru,
Philippines, Russian federation, Rwanda,
Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, Thailand, United Arab Emirates,
Uganda, Venezuela
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11. Japanese culture, design, and cuisine
inspire the world.
You will experience an exciting mix of tradition
and visionary modernity. Encounters with kabuki
and noh, kimono fittings, ikebana flower
arrangement, tea ceremonies and culinary
tradition are unforgettable experiences.
Temples and shrines with world heritage status
fascinate the visitor as do avant-garde
architecture, anime and manga culture
Attraction of
Japan When it comes to health and security Japan
is number one in the world.
Who would not feel safe in a country where
every year over 100 million yen worth of lost
property is returned to their owners? The
population owes their high life expectancy rate
to a very healthy cuisine. The hygiene standards
of hotels and public facilities are impressive.
Japan lures with great reachability
Hundreds of flight connections a day make
Japan easy to reach from all international
locations.
Visiting these websites, you can get further
information of two international airports in
Chiba.
Narita International Airport
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/index.html
Tokyo International Airport
http://www.tokyo-airport-bldg.co.jp/en/
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12. If you have any questions, please contact us!
Contact:
Organizing Committee President
Motoko Kametani
president@gainjapan.jp
IFMSA-Japan President
Questions? Taiki Nabekura We are ready to
president@ifmsa.jp welcome you!
Website:
To see our updates, please visit our facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MM-2012-
Japan/169835089721242