Kanagawa-Maryland Healthy Aging and ME-BYO Symposium
The Kanagawa–Maryland Healthy Aging and ME-BYO Symposium brings together leaders from government, academia, healthcare, and industry to discuss innovative responses to the challenges of an aging society.
The program focuses on ME-BYO (未病), Kanagawa Prefecture’s health concept describing the changing continuum between health and illness. The approach emphasizes self-management, precision health, preventive healthcare, and advanced life-science and healthcare technologies that can help people remain healthier for longer.
For the exoskeleton and rehabilitation-robotics community, the symposium is especially relevant because it connects healthy-aging policy and research with mobility-supporting robotic technologies. Dr. Yoshihiro Yasunaga of CYBERDYNE Inc. and the ROBOCARE Center Group is scheduled to provide an industry perspective on technologies that can support mobility, independence, and quality of life. The published program does not advertise a live exoskeleton demonstration.
Featured speakers
- Yuji Kuroiwa — Governor, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan (participation listed as TBC)
- Dr. Dana Burr Bradley — Dean, Erickson School of Aging Studies, UMBC
- Carol E. “Liz” Woodward — Assistant Secretary for Planning, Maryland Department of Aging
- Stephen McHugh — Chief Program Officer, Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE USA)
- Dr. Yoshihiro Yasunaga — Executive Officer, Sales & Marketing, CYBERDYNE Inc.; CEO, ROBOCARE Center Group
- Moderator: Dr. Takashi Yamashita — Professor of Sociology, Anthropology, Public Health, and the Gerontology Ph.D. Program, UMBC
Event details
- Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
- Time: 2:30–4:00 p.m. EDT
- Venue: The Skylight Room, The Commons, 3rd Floor, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250
- Cost: No fee listed
- Registration: Kanagawa–Maryland Healthy Aging and ME-BYO Symposium sign-up form
- Contact: yamataka@umbc.edu
Registration note: The sign-up form asks for a full name, affiliation, email address, and a required yes/no response regarding photo and video use.
Parking: UMBC lists metered visitor garages at Administration Drive, The Commons Drive, and Walker Avenue. Weekday meter rules apply. Review UMBC directions and parking information before traveling.
