Dr. Yoshimu Tanaka
（Representative Director, The Association for Clinical Research of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Japan (General Incorporated Association)）

Marking its 10th edition, nine years after the association’s establishment, this scientific conference represented an important milestone. In his opening address, Representative Director Dr. Yoshimu Tanaka reflected with deep emotion on the journey of the research association, which was founded by clinicians and other medical professionals.
He highlighted the association’s achievements in building international scientific evidence, including the publication of a review in 『Nutrients』 and the acceptance of a research paper on FMT for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 『Frontiers in Pediatrics』, resulting from collaborative research with Professor Taiichi Katayama of Osaka University and his colleagues. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause in recognition of the association’s steady progress.
Dr. Tanaka outlined the expansion of clinical applications beyond intractable diseases such as ulcerative colitis and cancer to more common conditions, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), dementia and Parkinson’s disease. With his strong commitment to “achieving further progress over the next 10 years”, the conference opened with a sense of anticipation for new possibilities in medicine.

[Event Report] Dr. Yorozu challenged the conventional approach of “boosting immunity”, emphasising instead the importance of optimising the tumour microenvironment (TME) to “enable the immune system to function effectively”.
He explained the immune cycle in which dendritic cells (DCs), which play a key role in preventing recurrence, train cytotoxic T cells. Remarkable treatment responses involving “Prime DC Therapy”, which sensitises DCs to antigens, were also presented, along with a detailed explanation of the role of the gut microbiota in overcoming an immunosuppressive TME.
In particular, the latest evidence concerning the synergistic effects of using faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to prepare the immune system’s “soil” and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to release its “brakes” made a strong impression on the audience. The lively question-and-answer session further contributed to an engaging lecture that conveyed a strong sense of anticipation for the dawn of next-generation cancer treatment.

[Event Report] Dr. Shirotani presented clinical findings on “FMT pretreatment using hydrogen nanobubble water” for refractory ulcerative colitis (UC).
Although FMT for active UC has raised concerns about the risk of worsening symptoms, he proposed a preconditioning approach in which hydrogen NanoGAS® water is administered alone as an enema before FMT to suppress excessive inflammation and create a reducing environment in the gut. He presented two cases in which this approach was associated with improved donor bacterial engraftment, dramatic symptom improvement and sustained long-term remission. He also discussed anti-αVβ6 integrin antibodies and molecular mimicry involving the microbiota, examining the possibility that FMT could reduce pathogenic antibodies.
The compelling lecture, which included Dr. Shirotani’s personal experience with UC, generated considerable enthusiasm among the audience. The question-and-answer session featured discussions from multiple perspectives, reflecting strong interest in this new treatment approach.

[Event Report] Dr. Mitooka, a leading expert in endoscopic diagnosis, presented groundbreaking research findings on reducing the volume and standardising bowel preparation using hydrogen NanoGAS® water.
With the incidence of colorectal cancer rising rapidly in Japan, one of the greatest barriers to colonoscopy, which is essential for early detection, is the need to drink a large volume (approximately 2 L) of bowel cleansing solution. Using just 900 mL of an isotonic cleansing solution, approximately half the conventional volume, the study achieved an excellent bowel cleansing rate of 95.5%, assessed using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). Particularly high cleansing effectiveness was observed in patients who had previously struggled to drink the required solution, demonstrating the clinical potential to dramatically reduce the physical and psychological burden of the examination. In addition, real-time footage showing a remarkable increase in intestinal peristalsis following the application of high-concentration nanogas deeply impressed the endoscopists in attendance.
The audience engaged in lively discussions about the mechanisms of bowel preparation and prospects for a double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT). Rich in scientific evidence, the lecture raised expectations for innovation in colonoscopy preparation.

[Event Report] Dr. Mikawa focused on the gut–brain axis through five pathways—neural, endocrine, immune, metabolic and barrier-related—and proposed the concept of “Gut Environment Redesign™”, an approach aimed at comprehensively addressing pathological conditions by targeting the intestinal environment. He positioned NanoGAS®ｰFMT as a powerful, comprehensive intervention and reported that approximately 90% of the psychiatric and neurological symptoms and other conditions assessed in his clinic’s clinical data showed trends towards improvement.
In his lecture, he presented improvements in SRS-2 scores following FMT interventions in children with ASD (autism spectrum disorder), along with objective evidence of improved social functioning through eye-tracking analysis using Gazefinder. He also introduced cases showing remarkable responses in tic disorders and panic disorder, emphasising the importance of an integrated three-part approach combining the gut, brain and nutrition.
Although the presentation was delivered through a prerecorded video, the question-and-answer session conducted via telephone featured lively discussions about nutritional therapy and lifestyle habits. The audience showed great interest in this new paradigm for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

[Event Report] Researcher Shimizu, who developed hydrogen NanoGAS® water, the core technology underlying NanoGAS®ｰFMT, explained the mechanisms of this groundbreaking FMT method, which eliminates the need for antibiotics and bowel cleansing, from the perspective of its physicochemical properties.
Drawing on the ecology of resident bacteria within the intestinal mucus layer, he emphasised that forming a “dispersed system” through microscopic bubbles, thereby preventing bacterial aggregation and excessive communication, is an important factor in intestinal engraftment. He further presented his original hypothesis that hydrogen NanoGAS® water, with an exceptionally strong reducing potential of −660 mV, enables effective “soil preparation” and bowel cleansing through the enormous energy released upon bubble collapse (collapse heat) in the intestinal mucosa under oxidative stress.
During the question-and-answer session, lively discussions brought together clinical and basic research perspectives, covering differences in intestinal peristalsis and cleansing effects during colonoscopy, as well as comparisons of physical properties with ozone bubbles. The lecture concluded amid great enthusiasm for the new possibilities in medicine that FMT may open up.

Panellists：
・Taiichi Katayama（Dean, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University; Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics）
・Executive Director　Masahiko Shirotani（Director, Shirotani BioWellness Clinic）
・Director　Kensho Yorozu（Chairman, Ishinkai Medical Corporation; Director, Yorozu Clinic）
・Director　Yuichi Kawai（Chairman, Yuakai Medical Corporation; Director, Kawai Internal Medical Clinic）
・Hideki Mitooka （Chairman, Ashiya Mitooka Clinic Medical Corporation; Director, Ashiya Mitooka Clinic）
・Shin Shimizu（Senior Researcher, Shinbiosis Corporation）

Chair：Representative Director　Yoshimu Tanaka（Chairman, Jinzenkai Medical Corporation; Director, Tanaka Clinic）