Karada-kan is a unique community-based health promotion and patient support project located in Tsuruoka city, Yamagata prefecture. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of the community dwellers. Our core activities are 1) information support for citizens’ and patients’ decision making regarding disease treatment and selfcare, 2) providing attractive learning opportunities, and 3) Promoting peer support and sharing experiences of patients. We had 10 years anniversary last year. In 2018, we had launched new projects such as making a set of original Karuta with community dwellers. We also launched a series of lectures and workshops for cancer patients to learn about peer-counseling.
Tsuruoka Metabolomic Cohort Study started in 2012 to follow up 11,000 enrolled residents over 25 years. One of the unique features of this cohort study is combining Metabolomic profiling analysis with other biological and life-style data. By collaborating with other sectors in the region, such as public sectors and healthcare providers, we have been producing remarkable research output. One example is finding novel biomarkers of alcohol intake and alcoholinduced liver injury. The other example is revealing profiling of plasma metabolites in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome. We are also very active in delivering our study results to community dwellers. By doing so, we are aiming to enhance community health and residents’ healthy lifestyle.