Entries Open for 'Nurse Men of the Year 2026' | Deadline May 31
The Japan Male Nurses Association and Nurse Men have announced the 'Nurse Men of the Year 2026' to honor outstanding male nurses, with entries now open until May 31.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 03:12
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 18:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 20:34 (2h 2m after Collected)
The Japan Male Nurses Association (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Kosuke Tsubota), in co-sponsorship with Nurse Men (Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Takahiro Akiyoshi), has decided to hold 'Nurse Men of the Year 2026' and has started accepting entries. The application deadline is Sunday, May 31, 2026, and the award ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 15:30 to 16:30 at Tokyo Big Sight (inside the International Modern Hospital Show / Nurse Festival 2026 venue).
■ What is Nurse Men of the Year?
Modeled after the male nurse award system of the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN), it was established in 2025 as an award system unique to Japan. Its purpose is to select and honor the achievements of 'people who have transcended gender as "nursing professionals" to change the field'. We will discover male nurses from all over the country who shine in diverse fields: contributions in daily nursing work, social activities beyond the boundaries of nursing, and information dissemination through social media.
In its inaugural year, 2025, numerous applications were received from all over the country, and an award ceremony was held on a special stage at 'Nurse Festival 2025' at Tokyo Big Sight.
■ Last Year's (2025) Winners
🏆 Influencer Award | Yuto Isozaki
Operator of the YouTube channel '@kidney-nurse-zaki'. He disseminates specialized knowledge in an easy-to-understand manner as a nurse specializing in kidneys, reaching 213,000 subscribers.
🏆 Male Nurse Award | Taichiro Sato
Nurse, international medical support, and humanitarian activist. He devoted himself to nursing support on the Diamond Princess during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, he leads activities that expand Japanese nursing globally, such as forming an international nurse community and holding international nurse summits. He participated in the award ceremony via video archive from Madagascar.
🏆 Active Award | Kazumi Kubota
Nurse/Researcher (Public Health/Data Science)
Based on his broad experience at the University of Tokyo, the Japanese Nursing Federation, and policy think tanks, he contributes to the development of the nursing world through a trinity of clinical practice, research, and policy. He has published over 100 papers in international academic journals. At age 25, he became an executive member of the Japanese Nursing Federation, building a system to reflect the voices of the clinical frontlines in policy. Selected unanimously by the judging committee.
■ 2026 Award Categories
🏆 Male Nurse Award
Honors male nurses who have contributed to patients, colleagues, and teams by utilizing the unique perspectives and strengths of male nurses in their daily nursing duties.
🏆 Active Award
Honors male nurses who contribute to society in a wide range of fields beyond the boundaries of nursing, such as research, administration, volunteering, sports, and art.
🏆 Influencer Award
Honors male nurses who broadly convey the appeal of nursing and the potential of male nurses to society through information dissemination on social media.
■ Event Outline
NURSE MEN OF THE YEAR 2026
Organizers) Japan Male Nurses Association / Nurse Men
Application Deadline) Sunday, May 31, 2026
Award Ceremony) Thursday, July 9, 2026, 15:30-16:30
Tokyo Big Sight (inside the Nurse Festival 2026 venue)
Eligibility) Male nurses (Self-nomination / Recommendation allowed)
Entry Fee) Free
📩 Entry here 👉 https://forms.gle/caNxygRJKtg54Grk9
■ Comments from the Representative Directors
Kosuke Tsubota, Representative Director, Japan Male Nurses Association
'The inaugural event last year received over 30 applications from nationwide. The figures of the three winners—Mr. Sato, who received the award in Madagascar; Mr. Kubota, who was selected unanimously; and Mr. Isozaki, who expanded his activities to health education in remote areas—proved once again the potential of the nursing profession. Next, it is your turn. Please show us your enthusiasm and passion.'
Takahiro Akiyoshi, Representative Director, Nurse Men
'Those who stood on this stage last year were peers who made the resolve to "act for someone else" their daily routine. It's not about titles or achievements. I feel that the very attitude of continuously facing the lives right in front of them has moved people's hearts and updated the potential of nurses.
Nurse Men will not let this end as a mere title. I believe that every single action born in the field will become the power to change society.
The next person to radiate that light is undoubtedly "you".
Please prove your resolve and story on this stage.'
■ About Japan Male Nurses Association
Established in September 2014. An organization working to solve issues facing the entire nursing profession. It develops activities in multiple areas, such as hosting the Nursing DX Award, customer harassment countermeasures, occupational nursing support, and visiting nursing support. Through more than 50 lectures a year at prefectural nursing associations and academic conferences, they are working extensively to improve the environment surrounding nurses. Involved in medical care, including female nurses.
■ What is Nurse Men of the Year?
Modeled after the male nurse award system of the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN), it was established in 2025 as an award system unique to Japan. Its purpose is to select and honor the achievements of 'people who have transcended gender as "nursing professionals" to change the field'. We will discover male nurses from all over the country who shine in diverse fields: contributions in daily nursing work, social activities beyond the boundaries of nursing, and information dissemination through social media.
In its inaugural year, 2025, numerous applications were received from all over the country, and an award ceremony was held on a special stage at 'Nurse Festival 2025' at Tokyo Big Sight.
■ Last Year's (2025) Winners
🏆 Influencer Award | Yuto Isozaki
Operator of the YouTube channel '@kidney-nurse-zaki'. He disseminates specialized knowledge in an easy-to-understand manner as a nurse specializing in kidneys, reaching 213,000 subscribers.
🏆 Male Nurse Award | Taichiro Sato
Nurse, international medical support, and humanitarian activist. He devoted himself to nursing support on the Diamond Princess during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, he leads activities that expand Japanese nursing globally, such as forming an international nurse community and holding international nurse summits. He participated in the award ceremony via video archive from Madagascar.
🏆 Active Award | Kazumi Kubota
Nurse/Researcher (Public Health/Data Science)
Based on his broad experience at the University of Tokyo, the Japanese Nursing Federation, and policy think tanks, he contributes to the development of the nursing world through a trinity of clinical practice, research, and policy. He has published over 100 papers in international academic journals. At age 25, he became an executive member of the Japanese Nursing Federation, building a system to reflect the voices of the clinical frontlines in policy. Selected unanimously by the judging committee.
■ 2026 Award Categories
🏆 Male Nurse Award
Honors male nurses who have contributed to patients, colleagues, and teams by utilizing the unique perspectives and strengths of male nurses in their daily nursing duties.
🏆 Active Award
Honors male nurses who contribute to society in a wide range of fields beyond the boundaries of nursing, such as research, administration, volunteering, sports, and art.
🏆 Influencer Award
Honors male nurses who broadly convey the appeal of nursing and the potential of male nurses to society through information dissemination on social media.
■ Event Outline
NURSE MEN OF THE YEAR 2026
Organizers) Japan Male Nurses Association / Nurse Men
Application Deadline) Sunday, May 31, 2026
Award Ceremony) Thursday, July 9, 2026, 15:30-16:30
Tokyo Big Sight (inside the Nurse Festival 2026 venue)
Eligibility) Male nurses (Self-nomination / Recommendation allowed)
Entry Fee) Free
📩 Entry here 👉 https://forms.gle/caNxygRJKtg54Grk9
■ Comments from the Representative Directors
Kosuke Tsubota, Representative Director, Japan Male Nurses Association
'The inaugural event last year received over 30 applications from nationwide. The figures of the three winners—Mr. Sato, who received the award in Madagascar; Mr. Kubota, who was selected unanimously; and Mr. Isozaki, who expanded his activities to health education in remote areas—proved once again the potential of the nursing profession. Next, it is your turn. Please show us your enthusiasm and passion.'
Takahiro Akiyoshi, Representative Director, Nurse Men
'Those who stood on this stage last year were peers who made the resolve to "act for someone else" their daily routine. It's not about titles or achievements. I feel that the very attitude of continuously facing the lives right in front of them has moved people's hearts and updated the potential of nurses.
Nurse Men will not let this end as a mere title. I believe that every single action born in the field will become the power to change society.
The next person to radiate that light is undoubtedly "you".
Please prove your resolve and story on this stage.'
■ About Japan Male Nurses Association
Established in September 2014. An organization working to solve issues facing the entire nursing profession. It develops activities in multiple areas, such as hosting the Nursing DX Award, customer harassment countermeasures, occupational nursing support, and visiting nursing support. Through more than 50 lectures a year at prefectural nursing associations and academic conferences, they are working extensively to improve the environment surrounding nurses. Involved in medical care, including female nurses.