Osaka Yukioka College of Medical Welfare Nagara Campus, Acupuncture Course Students Experience Traditional "Mugwort Manufacturing"!

The Yukioka Gakuen Educational Foundation (Location: 2-2-11 Ukita, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture; Chairman: Masao Yukioka), which upholds "Cooperation" as its founding spirit, conducted a field trip to the mugwort factory for first and second-year students of the Acupuncture Course at Osaka Yukioka College of Medical Welfare Nagara Campus on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The visit was held at the Mita Factory (1367-8 Mita, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture) of Yamasho Co., Ltd., one of Japan's leading mugwort manufacturers.

■ Background and Objectives of the Implementation

At our institution, we position experiential learning in the actual "place" of specialized education as an indispensable and important learning strategy, stepping beyond knowledge acquisition in lecture halls.

This "Mugwort Factory Visit" aims to enhance students' interest and engagement in moxibustion treatments by allowing them to directly experience how "mugwort," which is essential for acupuncture and moxibustion medicine, is produced and to feel the manufacturing process firsthand.

Furthermore, as the manufacturing process of mugwort has recently appeared in the national examination for acupuncturists, this was conducted as part of a practical curriculum that looks towards both the acquisition of living knowledge useful in clinical practice and preparation for the national examination.

■ Implementation Details: Learning the Fusion of Traditional Techniques and Mechanization Through the Five Senses

With the cooperation of Yamasho Co., Ltd., this was a valuable opportunity for students to closely observe the mugwort manufacturing site, which is not usually visible.

- Improving Learning Effects Through Observation of the Manufacturing Process

Inside the factory, students observed various specialized machinery used in the mugwort manufacturing process, including the "hot air dryer," the traditional "three types of stone mills," and the "Nagadooshi" and "Tomi" (winnowing machines) used for selecting impurities. Students showed strong interest as they witnessed the dynamic movements of the machines and the skills of the artisans up close, which are difficult to understand solely through textbooks.

▲ Scene from the day

Our institution will continue to strengthen its practical education system under the spirit of "Cooperation," in close collaboration with the local community, so that each student can shine in the future medical field.

We, the entire faculty and staff, are dedicated to nurturing students so that, fueled by a deep understanding of the technology and history behind medical tools cultivated through this "Mugwort Factory Visit," they can further deepen their curiosity and grow into high-quality medical professionals who can deeply empathize with both the physical and mental well-being of patients with solid skills and rich humanity in the future.

About Yukioka Gakuen Educational Foundation:

An educational institution in the medical field with over 90 years of history since its establishment in 1932. It operates Osaka Yukioka University of Medical Welfare, Yukioka College of Medical Technology, and Osaka Yukioka College of Medical Welfare Nagara Campus. Under the founding spirit of "Cooperation," it provides clinically focused education in collaboration with the affiliated Yukioka Hospital, nurturing professionals who support community healthcare, such as physical therapists, nurses, and dental hygienists.

- Osaka Yukioka University of Medical Welfare (Faculty of Medical Welfare, Department of Physical Therapy): https://www.yukioka-u.ac.jp/

- Yukioka College of Medical Technology (Department of Nursing I, Department of Dental Hygiene): https://yukioka.ac.jp/igaku/

- Osaka Yukioka College of Medical Welfare Nagara Campus (Department of Radiology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Department of Acupuncture): https://yukioka.ac.jp/nagara/