このブロックは画面サイズによって見た目が変化する特殊なブロックです
※編集・削除ができる項目も画面サイズによって異なります

詳細はヘルプページの「フローティングメニューブロックの編集」をご確認ください
✉️ info@waraitaikai.com

ABOUT / Theme

At the 3rd Global Laughter Forum in Nara, we will consider how laughter can help support people and communities, and what new possibilities it can create, as we face the challenges of healthcare, caregiving, and everyday life in local communities amid an aging society and declining birthrate.


 3rd Global Laughter Forum Theme:
Weaving the Future of People and Communities with Laughter


Message from the Chairperson: The 3rd Global Laughter Forum in Nara

Atsuhiko Fukuoka
Chairperson, The 3rd Global Laughter Forum Director, Society for Laughter Innovation Vice Director, Nakatsuji Clinic

Japan is currently in the midst of an unprecedented aging society with a declining birthrate. While population decline and the weakening of community ties are challenges we cannot ignore, one thing remains essential for humans to live healthy, fulfilling lives regardless of social change: the power of laughter.

In this forum, we have established "Well-being in a Super-Aging Society" as our central theme. From the perspective of compassionate medical care to the latest scientific findings and experiential workshops, we will explore "laughter" from multiple angles. We believe you will find the keys to a future where everyone can live with a smile right here in Nara.

Our venue, "Iraka," is located in the heart of Nara Park, where deer roam freely. While our staff has been busy preparing—and occasionally dodging local "surprises" like having our meeting materials nibbled on by the deer (as they are national treasures, please feed them shika-senbei crackers instead of paper!)—we are dedicated to making this event unforgettable.

We have prepared unique experiences only Nara can offer, such as a social gathering at the prestigious, newly renovated Nara Hotel and the rare opportunity to present your work on a traditional Noh stage. We are confident that this visit will update your memories of Nara from your school trip days to something even more exciting and profound.

"Fortune comes to those who laugh." Let us carry this wisdom from Nara to the rest of the world. I look forward to laughing with all of you and taking a step toward building a truly flourishing society.

Outline

3rd Global Laughter Forum

Dates & Time

Day 1
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Registration opens at 12:00 PM
Forum: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Day 2
Monday, October 12, 2026 — National Holiday
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Morning Laughter & Deer Calling
8:30 AM at Tobihino

Reception Dinner
Sunday, October 11, 2026
From 6:00 PM at Nara Hotel
Tentative

Registration Fee

Registration Fee: ¥16,500 per person
Includes lunch on Day 2

Reception Dinner Fee: ¥13,000 per person

Program

Themes & Speakers Details may be added or changed.

Keynote Lecture

A Compassionate Community Doctor’s Prescription for the Heart: The Power of Laughter to Connect Healthcare and Everyday Life

Ichiro Takeda

Director, Asuka Village National Health Insurance Clinic After graduating from Jichi Medical University, Dr. Ichiro Takeda has dedicated his career to community medicine in Nara Prefecture. In Asuka Village, he is affectionately known as “Dr. Ichiro.” He is engaged in home medical care, interprofessional collaboration, medical education, and advance care planning (ACP), while practicing medicine that stays closely connected to the everyday lives of the local community. In 2024, he received the 12th Akahige Grand Prize from the Japan Medical Association.

Educational Lecture

A Future Opened by a Life with Laughter

How can small daily habits bring positive changes to our physical and mental well-being, as well as to our connections with the community? From the perspective of a physician and researcher, Professor Ohira will explore the possibilities of living with laughter.

Tetsuya Ohira

Professor, Fukushima Medical University
Board Member, Laughter Innovation Society

Professor Tetsuya Ohira was selected for the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list, published by Stanford University and Elsevier, in the updated version released on September 19, 2025.


Symposium

What Can Laughter Do in an Era of Declining Birthrates and an Aging Population?
— Perspectives from Community Healthcare, Long-Term Care, Public Administration, and Citizen-Led Practice —

In the face of the many challenges of modern society, what can laughter support, and what can it help transform? This symposium will explore the possibilities of laughter from diverse perspectives, including community healthcare, long-term care, public administration, and citizen-led activities.
Symposium Chair
Katsunori Nakase

Director, Nakase Clinic
Executive Board Member, Tokushima City Medical Association
Occupational Health Consultant
Panelists
Atsuhiko Fukuoka


Board Member, NPO Warotenka-tai

What We Have Learned from Community Healthcare and the Activities of NPO Warotenka-tai

Panelists
Ichiro Takeda

Director, Asuka Village National Health Insurance Clinic

How We Face Death Reflects How We Live:
A Perspective from Compassionate Community Care

Panelists
Yoko Yamane

Public Health Nurse

Practice as a Public Health Nurse in the Remote and Aging Rural Community of Wakasa, Tottori
Panelists
Yoshiko Takada

Representative Director, Laughter Innovation Society

Using Laughter as a Tool to Address Challenges
小見出し
ここをクリックして表示したいテキストを入力してください。

Workshops

Please choose one workshop you would like to attend when registering. Workshops will be held in breakout-session format, with a variety of themes to choose from.

Workshop instructors and themes are subject to change.

All workshops will be held during the same time slot. Each workshop has a limited capacity. If your preferred workshop is full, we may ask you to choose another workshop.

Learn the Art of Expressive Communication!

Atsumasa Edahiro
Director, Toyookadai Hospital

Learn the skills of effective expression from “Dr. Acchan,” a physician who is also active as a rakugo performer and stage actor.

How to Turn On the Switch in the Heart

Noriko Nakamura
Certified Public Psychologist

Drawing on her extensive experience in counseling and public speaking, Noriko Nakamura will share practical tips for creating a supportive atmosphere, with hands-on exercises.

Dr. Yabui Chikuan Returns!

Katsunori Nakase
Director, Nakase Clinic

A one-of-a-kind talk by a witty and charismatic doctor, whose presentation was met with great enthusiasm at the 1st Laughter Forum.

小見出し
ここをクリックして表示したいテキストを入力してください。


Application 

We look foward to your application.

Call for Presentations

  • We are looking for individuals who can present research or practical work stuitable for the Laughter Forum in a 5 to 10 minute presentation. If you wish to present, please registar your name, presentation title, and summary via the web form by June 30th.
     
  • After the deadline, the secretariat will contact you regarding the acceptance of your proposal. Please note that presentaions not aligned with the forum's purpose, or if there are too many applications, some proposals may be rejected or require revisions.

  • The abstract manuscript must be submitted by August 17th using the prescribed method  

Reception Dinner

The reception will be held at Nara Hotel.

Often referred to as “Kansai’s State Guest House,” Nara Hotel is a special place that has welcomed distinguished guests such as Albert Einstein and Audrey Hepburn. We invite you to enjoy an evening of conversation and laughter in this historic setting.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2026

Please note that we are unable to accommodate allergies or other dietary requirements.
Registration may close once capacity is reached.

Morning Laughter Yoga & Shikayose Deer Calling

Participants will enjoy Laughter Yoga and a special encounter with Nara’s deer at Tobihino, a spacious field within the grounds of World Heritage-listed Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

03

小見出し

ここをクリックして表示したいテキストを入力してください。テキストは「右寄せ」「中央寄せ」「左寄せ」といった整列方向、「太字」「斜体」「下線」「取り消し線」、「文字サイズ」「文字色」「文字の背景色」など細かく編集することができます。

Notice

How to Register

How to Register

Please register via the Google Form.

Before registering, please make sure you can receive emails from the following domain:
@waraitaikai.com

Registration Fee
¥16,500 per person
Includes lunch on Day 2.

Reception Dinner Fee
¥13,000 per person
Registration deadline for the Reception Dinner: September 30, 2026

When registering, please select one workshop you would like to attend.
Each workshop has a limited capacity. If your preferred workshop is full, we may ask you to choose another workshop.

For group registrations, please provide the name, country of residence, Reception Dinner participation preference, and workshop choice for each participant, in addition to the representative’s information.

After we receive your registration, we will send a Square invoice to you by email within one week.
Please complete your payment within one week of receiving the invoice.

After your payment is confirmed, you will receive a registration confirmation email from:
info@waraitaikai.com
within two weeks.

A PDF with more detailed information about the event day will be sent to you closer to the date.

Registration may close once capacity is reached.

Important Notes

Meals

 

Lunch on Day 2 is included in the Registration Fee.
The Reception Dinner on Day 1 is available only to those who register and pay for it in advance.

All other meals must be arranged individually.

Dietary Requirements
Please note that we are unable to accommodate allergies or other dietary requirements.

Accommodation
Participants are requested to arrange and pay for their own hotel accommodations.

Visa
Please check and arrange any necessary visa and other requirements for your visit to Japan on your own.

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations cannot be accepted after payment. However, substitute attendees are allowed.
If you wish to send a substitute, please inform us of the substitute’s name, country of residence, and contact information by email.

Childcare
Childcare services will not be provided.

Photography & Media Use
Photos and videos may be taken by event staff during the forum. These photos and videos may be publicly shared or used by The Society for Laughter Innovation for reports, publicity, and promotional purposes. By participating in the forum, you consent to this use.

小見出し

サンプル 太郎
ここをクリックして表示したいテキストを入力してください。テキストは「右寄せ」「中央寄せ」「左寄せ」といった整列方向、「太字」「斜体」「下線」「取り消し線」、「文字サイズ」「文字色」「文字の背景色」など細かく編集することができます。

これは編集画面用のサンプルです。

「プレビュー」から実際の見た目をご確認ください。

  
  
このブロックは非表示設定になっています公開ページで表示したい場合は「ブロックの設定」から変更してください
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
blog

Access

How to get to the Forum Venue
◆Venue
Nara Kasugano International Forum IRAKA
◆Address
101 Kasugano-cho, Nara City, Nara, Japan


◆By Foot
20-minute walk from Exit 2 of Kintetsu Nara Station
◆By Bus

From Kintetsu Nara Station:
Take a Nara Kotsu bus from Bus Stop No. 1 near Exit 5.

From JR Nara Station:
Take a Nara Kotsu bus from Bus Stop No. 2 at the East Exit.

For both routes, take either:

A bus bound for “Kasuga Taisha Honden” and get off at “Nara Kasugano International Forum IRAKA-mae.” The venue is just a short walk from the bus stop.

Or take the City Loop Bus, Outer Route, and get off at “Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasuga Taisha-mae.” From there, walk east from the Daibutsuden intersection for about 3 minutes.

見出し ここをクリックして表示したいテキストを入力してください。テキストは「右寄せ」「中央寄せ」「左寄せ」といった整列方向、「太字」「斜体」「下線」「取り消し線」、「文字サイズ」「文字色」「文字の背景色」など細かく編集することができます。テキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキスト...。テキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキスト...。テキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキストテキスト...。

Contact 

実際のスライダーの動きは、プレビュー/公開ページでご確認ください

Secretariat 

Laughter Forum Secretariat
(The Secretariat of the Japan Society for Laughter Innovation (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo))

※For inquiries, please contact us by email.


Privacy Policy

Your information will be used only for event-related contact and arrangements.
We may also send info about the Japan Reception is handled Innovation.

Reception is handled by Japan Laughter Yoga Association; Artland Inc. on behalf of the Society