2026 "Nursing Day" Event "KANGO-bu!" Special Supporter Ai Mikami Cheers on Junior and Senior High School Students Aspiring to Nursing!
The Japanese Nursing Association held the 2026 "Nursing Day" event "KANGO-bu!" where special supporter Ai Mikami encouraged junior and senior high school students aspiring to become nurses. Through talk sessions and award presentations, the event conveyed the appeal of nursing to young people, aiming to secure future nursing talent.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 11:31
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The Japanese Nursing Association (President: Tomoya Akiyama, 700,000 members) held the "Nursing Day" event "KANGO-bu!" on Sunday, May 10th, the first day of Nursing Week (May 10-16) in 2026, with the aim of conveying the appeal of nursing to young people.
At this event, Harry Sugiyama served as MC for the second consecutive year, and actress Ai Mikami, as a special supporter, along with "Nursing Day" character Kango-chan, appeared for a talk session that included episodes related to nursing and enthusiastic encouragement for junior and senior high school students aspiring to become nurses. In the announcement of the award-winning works for "Unforgettable Nursing Episodes ~Professionals who protect, support, and cherish life, living, and dignity~", an animation created based on the grand prize-winning work was also screened.
In the second part, a VTR was shown of Kango-chan visiting the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Showa University of Medical Sciences. Nursing students and faculty members who appeared in the VTR took the stage and spoke about their real learning experiences and practical training in nursing. Through various contents, the event not only promoted the appeal of nursing but also supported junior and senior high school students aspiring to become nurses.
Archive footage of the event and the animation of the grand prize-winning work from "Unforgettable Nursing Episodes ~Professionals who protect, support, and cherish life, living, and dignity~" can be viewed on the Japanese Nursing Association website and the "Nursing Day" YouTube channel.
[Award-winning works for "Unforgettable Nursing Episodes ~Professionals who protect, support, and cherish life, living, and dignity~"]
■ Grand Prize
"Whose words are those for?" by Takuya Okabe
■ Excellence Awards
"My assets as a nurse" by Yoriko Saito
"Nursing that puts on shoes" by Hidenori Wakasugi
[Event Highlights]
▼ Ai Mikami, feeling the origin of nursing, "observation," through her role in the serial TV novel "Kaze, Kaoru" (NHK)
Ai Mikami, who appeared as a special supporter, mentioned that she is currently playing Rin Ichinose, the protagonist modeled after Chika Ozeki, a Meiji-era nurse, in the currently airing serial TV novel "Kaze, Kaoru" (NHK). She said, "I think that era was a time when women's lives were particularly determined by their birth and upbringing. In such a time, the protagonists of this work face the job of 'nursing,' which was not yet established in Japan, so I wanted to play the role with the determination and inner strength of a pioneer." She also revealed that in preparing for the role, she listened to stories from friends who work as nurses and attended lectures by a professor who researches Nightingale.
When asked about episodes that deepened her understanding of nursing, she recalled a scene in the drama where Florence Nightingale's book "Notes on Nursing" was translated. She said, "There was a scene where I struggled with how to translate the word 'observe.' I learned that at that time, the concept of 'observe' = 'observation' was not yet widely understood in Japan, and that nursing means 'watching patients' using 'hands' and 'eyes.' I reaffirmed that the basis of nursing is 'observation,' and I continue to act with that awareness."
Furthermore, as something particularly impressive during her training by actual nurses, she cited "how to make a bed (bed-making)." She said, "At first, I was puzzled as to why it was so important, but I practiced many times. Still, it was really difficult to finish it quickly and without wrinkles by myself, like the nurses." In response, Chairman Akiyama explained its importance, saying, "If there are wrinkles in the sheets, it can lead to bedsores (pressure ulcers) for patients who have difficulty turning over." Mikami also commented on the change in her impression of nursing, saying, "I felt that nursing does not have one 'correct answer,' but rather it is a job of finding the right answer for each individual. I thought about the patients' worries and feelings, which I couldn't understand just by reading the script, by consulting with the on-site instructors in the drama, and I acted while struggling with it." She said that through her role, she deeply realized that each patient has different challenges and approaches.
Finally, in connection with the event's theme, "Looking ahead to the me beyond," Mikami sent a warm message to young people aspiring to nursing, saying, "Taking a step forward requires courage, but beyond that, there are unexpected events and encounters. Failures are never wasted and enrich one's life. I want you to try challenging yourselves first." Chairman Akiyama also said, "The appeal of nursing lies in accompanying and supporting people throughout their lives. As a professional who 'sees people,' it is a rewarding and attractive job where you can also grow yourself."
At this event, Harry Sugiyama served as MC for the second consecutive year, and actress Ai Mikami, as a special supporter, along with "Nursing Day" character Kango-chan, appeared for a talk session that included episodes related to nursing and enthusiastic encouragement for junior and senior high school students aspiring to become nurses. In the announcement of the award-winning works for "Unforgettable Nursing Episodes ~Professionals who protect, support, and cherish life, living, and dignity~", an animation created based on the grand prize-winning work was also screened.
In the second part, a VTR was shown of Kango-chan visiting the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Showa University of Medical Sciences. Nursing students and faculty members who appeared in the VTR took the stage and spoke about their real learning experiences and practical training in nursing. Through various contents, the event not only promoted the appeal of nursing but also supported junior and senior high school students aspiring to become nurses.
Archive footage of the event and the animation of the grand prize-winning work from "Unforgettable Nursing Episodes ~Professionals who protect, support, and cherish life, living, and dignity~" can be viewed on the Japanese Nursing Association website and the "Nursing Day" YouTube channel.
[Award-winning works for "Unforgettable Nursing Episodes ~Professionals who protect, support, and cherish life, living, and dignity~"]
■ Grand Prize
"Whose words are those for?" by Takuya Okabe
■ Excellence Awards
"My assets as a nurse" by Yoriko Saito
"Nursing that puts on shoes" by Hidenori Wakasugi
[Event Highlights]
▼ Ai Mikami, feeling the origin of nursing, "observation," through her role in the serial TV novel "Kaze, Kaoru" (NHK)
Ai Mikami, who appeared as a special supporter, mentioned that she is currently playing Rin Ichinose, the protagonist modeled after Chika Ozeki, a Meiji-era nurse, in the currently airing serial TV novel "Kaze, Kaoru" (NHK). She said, "I think that era was a time when women's lives were particularly determined by their birth and upbringing. In such a time, the protagonists of this work face the job of 'nursing,' which was not yet established in Japan, so I wanted to play the role with the determination and inner strength of a pioneer." She also revealed that in preparing for the role, she listened to stories from friends who work as nurses and attended lectures by a professor who researches Nightingale.
When asked about episodes that deepened her understanding of nursing, she recalled a scene in the drama where Florence Nightingale's book "Notes on Nursing" was translated. She said, "There was a scene where I struggled with how to translate the word 'observe.' I learned that at that time, the concept of 'observe' = 'observation' was not yet widely understood in Japan, and that nursing means 'watching patients' using 'hands' and 'eyes.' I reaffirmed that the basis of nursing is 'observation,' and I continue to act with that awareness."
Furthermore, as something particularly impressive during her training by actual nurses, she cited "how to make a bed (bed-making)." She said, "At first, I was puzzled as to why it was so important, but I practiced many times. Still, it was really difficult to finish it quickly and without wrinkles by myself, like the nurses." In response, Chairman Akiyama explained its importance, saying, "If there are wrinkles in the sheets, it can lead to bedsores (pressure ulcers) for patients who have difficulty turning over." Mikami also commented on the change in her impression of nursing, saying, "I felt that nursing does not have one 'correct answer,' but rather it is a job of finding the right answer for each individual. I thought about the patients' worries and feelings, which I couldn't understand just by reading the script, by consulting with the on-site instructors in the drama, and I acted while struggling with it." She said that through her role, she deeply realized that each patient has different challenges and approaches.
Finally, in connection with the event's theme, "Looking ahead to the me beyond," Mikami sent a warm message to young people aspiring to nursing, saying, "Taking a step forward requires courage, but beyond that, there are unexpected events and encounters. Failures are never wasted and enrich one's life. I want you to try challenging yourselves first." Chairman Akiyama also said, "The appeal of nursing lies in accompanying and supporting people throughout their lives. As a professional who 'sees people,' it is a rewarding and attractive job where you can also grow yourself."