Hokkaidō, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, is renowned for its magnificent natural environment and is home to Rakuno Gakuen University. The university joined the PREZODE members’ community in 2025. It comprises the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and the School of Veterinary Medicine.
The Department of Food and Health Sciences, which is involved with PREZODE, aims to develop individuals who can contribute to society by equipping students with a broad range of knowledge and skills related to food production, processing, manufacturing, distribution, and health, while also fostering comprehensive judgment in matters of food and health. Interview with Kohei Makita, Head of the WOAH- Collaborating Centre on Food Safety at Rakuno Gakuen University.
Could you give us a brief overview of the university?
Rakuno Gakuen University (RGU) was established in 1933. It currently enrolls 2,800 undergraduate students and 95 postgraduate students. The university is located in Hokkaido Prefecture, in the northernmost part of Japan. It comprises the School of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, and the Graduate Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Dairy Science. Its main fields of research include sustainable agriculture, farm-to-fork health, companion animal medicine, and environmental sciences.
How is One Health embedded in the programs – educational and teaching objectives?
RGU was founded on two guiding principles: “Three Loves[1]” and “Healthy Soil Makes Healthy People,” both of which reflect the values of sustainable agriculture and One Health. In veterinary education, One Health is a core topic covered in lectures and practical sessions on zoonotic diseases, animal health, public health, and epidemiology. One Health research is conducted collaboratively across the School, the College, and the Graduate Schools. The School of Veterinary Medicine holds the status of WOAH Collaborating Centre for Food Safety and leads capacity-building and research initiatives on One Health across Asia and Africa.
How did you learn from PREZODE, and what makes you want to join the Initiative?
We learned about PREZODE through Professor Chiho Watanabe at Nagasaki University in 2024. The university believes that joining PREZODE will benefit its One Health researchers by expanding their opportunities for networking and collaboration with international partners in the field.
How do you envision RGU’s involvement in PREZODE going forward?
The WOAH Collaborating Centre for Food Safety is particularly interested in regional events, capacity-building, and collaborative research. Should opportunities arise to work in coordination with other WOAH Reference Centres or international organizations such as FAO, WHO, and UNEP, RGU would be keen to engage actively.
[1]Three Loves are loves to God, People, and Soil (RGU is a Christian university).