Second Half of My Europe Travel: From Padova to Rome

7月 07, 2025

The highlight of the second half of my Europe journey was undoubtedly the training seminar in Padova for psychiatrists at the Department of Neurology. I was genuinely surprised by how much interest there was in hikikomori—more than I had expected. After a full day of hard work, I was moved to see that everyone stayed attentive throughout the seminar—no one closed their eyes or drifted off.

What touched me most were the many questions, the discussions afterward, and the fact that people stayed back to talk, share feedback, and ask even more questions. These conversations were incredibly valuable to me.

Professor Sambataro, the director of the psychiatry program, remarked that he himself was surprised by how active and engaged the audience was. I also learned a great deal from him—particularly about how he trains his residents. He allows them the freedom to explore different specialties, trusting that this openness will help them become more effective in their future practice. That culture of trust, I believe, is part of why people felt secure enough to participate fully and ask questions.

This seminar also sparked ideas for future collaboration. We’re now planning to launch an international hikikomori survey targeting mental health professionals in December 2025. It will be a global initiative, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can learn together.

Another meaningful connection came through Dr. Marco, who is leading a study on depression. I found his work fascinating, and we discussed the potential of collaborating—especially if we can gather sufficient data from Japan and Malaysia to make transcultural comparisons.

After Padova, I finally allowed myself to go on holiday. Professor Sambataro insisted that I must not leave Italy without visiting Rome—especially since it’s the Jubilee Year. By God’s grace, although I never planned for it, I found myself in Rome for three days. I explored the Vatican, wandered through many of Rome’s historic churches, and walked alongside countless pilgrims. It was deeply moving.

As a solo traveler, I met many people along the way. Sometimes, I felt the risk. Most of the time, I felt safe. As always, I paid close attention to my surroundings and learned a lot—not only about the places I visited but about people, systems, and cultures. I saw how local police operated, and I reflected on how being a polite Japanese traveler can be both an advantage and, at times, a disadvantage.