お知らせ

   At the 126th Annual Congress of the Japan Surgical Society, held in Sapporo from April 23 to 25, 2026, the “Future Surgeons Club — Kita no Robot Koshien,”
a robotic surgery simulator competition for medical students, was held. A team representing Okayama University Medical School, consisting of sixth-year
students Ms. Mika Watanabe, Mr. Yuta Fukuda, and Mr. Yuki Kurihara, achieved an outstanding runner-up finish.
    “Kita no Robot Koshien” is a competition in which medical students aspiring to become next-generation surgeons compete in university- and region-based
teams using robotic surgery simulators. At the 126th Annual Congress of the Japan Surgical Society, participation was invited from 83 medical schools across
Japan, and the event was held as a hands-on program enabling students to put their daily learning into practice.
   The students from Okayama University took on tasks using robotic surgery simulators and demonstrated excellent technical skills, concentration, and
accuracy while dividing roles within the team under limited time constraints. As a result, they achieved the remarkable result of finishing as runners-up
among medical students from across the country.
    The results of the competition were also announced on the official social media accounts of the Japan Surgical Society, with Kyoto University placing first,
Okayama University second, and Gifu University third.
    Following this achievement, the participating students paid a courtesy visit to Dean Wada, Okayama University Medical School, where they reported on
their runner-up finish and shared their experiences from the competition.
    Okayama University Medical School will continue to value opportunities for students to engage with advanced medicine and surgical practice from an early
stage, helping them broaden their perspectives as future healthcare professionals.

Comments from the Participating Students
Ms. Mika Watanabe
Sixth-year Student, Okayama University Medical School
     I am pleased to report that our team achieved second place nationwide at the Robot Koshien competition held during the Annual Congress
of the Japan Surgical Society.
     Although we were narrowly defeated by Kyoto University in the final round, we were very happy to have advanced through the semifinal
round in first place, outperforming many renowned universities from across Japan.
A total of 83 universities participated in this program, and many teams had trained extensively in simulator environments similar to those used
in the actual competition. Despite our limited practice time, we were able to achieve this result thanks to the teachers who guided us on a daily basis
and even stayed with us late after surgery to support our practice, the teachers who encouraged and supported us on the day of the competition,
and my two classmates who worked so hard alongside me. I am sincerely grateful to all of them.
     Through this experience, I once again realized the importance of sincerely tackling the task in front of me and the joy of working together with
teammates toward a shared goal. I will continue to devote myself to becoming a surgeon who can contribute to team-based medical care, while
never forgetting my gratitude to those who have supported me.

Mr. Yuta Fukuda
Sixth-year Student, Okayama University Medical School
   We were honored to receive the wonderful result of runner-up at the “Kita no Robot Koshien,” an FSC program held during the 126th Annual Congress
of the Japan Surgical Society.I am deeply grateful to the teachers who, despite their busy schedules, took time for us after surgery and even on holidays
to support our practice. Thanks to their generous guidance and many pieces of advice, always given without hesitation, we were able to receive this award.
   In this program, we were also able to exchange ideas with our teammates and refine our approach within a limited amount of time.
This process itself became an extremely valuable experience for us.
   In this competition, our goal was to “work together as a team to defeat other universities.” Going forward, however, I strongly feel that we must continue
striving toward the larger goal of “working together as a team to save patients.” Building on this valuable experience, I will continue to work even harder
to become a surgeon who can bring smiles to as many patients as possible in the future.

Mr. Yuki Kurihara
Sixth-year Student, Okayama University Medical School
    I had the opportunity to participate as a student in the 126th Annual Congress of the Japan Surgical Society and compete in the “Kita no Robot Koshien,”
where our team achieved the result of runner-up.
Through this program, I experienced the enjoyment and sense of accomplishment that come from developing strategies together with friends. It also helped
me imagine more concretely how surgeons approach each operation strategically.
    I am sincerely grateful to the teachers who have provided us with guidance and support on a daily basis, enabling us to achieve this result.
    Going forward, while holding on to the image of the surgeon I envisioned through this experience, I would like to value each step I take first as a resident
and continue working hard toward my goal of becoming a surgeon.

○Courtesy Visit to Dean Wada

〇At the competition venue 

〇At the award ceremony