Dr. Osamu Urushibata, Don Bosco Past Pupil

By Fr. Yoshiki Sekiya, SDB

Tokyo, Japan, 4 February 2016 - There is a dermatologist in a small clinic in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, who practices medicine following the spirit of the Salesians. He is aiming not only at medical treatment but also the mental care of the patient : [ he is a street doctor ] (街のお医者さん＝街医者 ) How did he spend his life as a former pupil at one of Don Bosco’s schools?

We requested an interview with Dr. Osamu Urushibata. He is one of the guest professors of Toho University, and serves as the Director General of Medical Incorporated Body (Inc.) ARTEMIDES・ the Director of Dermal Clinic Uno.

Why was it that you entered the Salesian Kindergarten and elementary school?

First of all, my parents wanted me to study hard. At that time there were fewer kindergartens than now. Besides, it was not so common to send one’s children to a kindergarten. But a Salesian Kindergarten happened to have opened near my house, so I went there for two and a half years and then, to a Salesian elementary school.

Even now I have a strong impression of the kindergarten and of the elementary school. I was a rather active boy. I played with fire and burnt wild hay near the railway, with my friends. After such mischievous pranks we went into the wooden chapel nearby, and prayed before the statue of Our Lady. I felt that the chapel was “a very holy place” even in my childish mind. The presence of Mary seemed very effective or powerful to me in childhood.

As I remember my old days, there was a procession of Our Lady in our school. Now they have it in the precincts of the church only, but at that time we had a return procession between our school and the station, with the statue on a three –wheeled truck. I participated in it wearing the costume of a Crusader.

What was good for me in Salesian education was that the Sisters taught us that 「God is always watching us kindly.」 If something difficult happened, Sisters explained simply that 「God wants us to prepare for the next step now」, or something like that. I should not be discouraged, but according to them religion was not something strict or rigid, and such a way of thinking helped me on several occasions in my life.

Why did you become a doctor?

When I was in senior high school, I decided to study town planning and architecture in the department of engineering of Tohoku University. Just at that time, my uncle opened a dermal clinic in Ikebukuro which was the first in Tokyo. I visited him from time to time, and gradually I was attracted to life in Tokyo.

When I confided my secret to him he suggested that I 「Study in the medical department of a university」. At first , I was a little upset, but finally I decided to study medical science, so I entered Toho University and studied pediatrics while I was a student, so that I could open a pediatric clinic. But so-called Prof Yasuda, invited me to his dermal department, 「Come to the dermal department」. That is why I stayed in the University and entered his dermal department in gratitude to him. In the medical department, we have to do medical practice , attend lectures, do research, and attend medical meetings. It was a busy life, everyday.

At such a time, my uncle was taken ill. That is why I opened a new dermal clinic, following my uncle and I am practicing medicine now at the clinic which I opened anew. When I look back upon my past, it seems that God ordered me,｢do this and that｣、planning everything for me by Himself.

Even at a dermal clinic, there are many patients who come with mental problems. I listen to the worries of such patients, speaking to them gently so that they can be treated and healed or cured with new methods. This is rather difficult, but sometimes mental care leads to physical wellbeing.

Why was it named 「ARTEMIDES」?

Father Angel Hitoshi Yamanouchi thought of the name and gave it to the clinic. Two of my children were in the Salesian Kindergarten at that time, and my wife was an official of the committee and used to go to the church. Then later, my eldest son had to choose an elementary school. He wanted a school 「 where I can find Our Lady」. So he entered the elementary school of Meguro Seibi Gakuen. Then, in addition 「Isn’t this a chance for all the family to be baptised ?｣ was the suggestion. Father Yamanouchi was in Saginuma Church at that time and I was very obliged to him for his kindness.

On opening the clinic, when we were thinking about,「What shall we name the clinic?」we asked Father for some good idea. Father answered, 「How about ARTEMIDES?」 He suggested one of the Salesian Brother name. That was why we named the clinic ARTEMIDES」

Message for young people

I want them to know about the lives of many people. In my daily practice I see many patients and I can learn about their past lives. When we are young this is quite difficult to understand from our own experience and standpoint.

For this understanding entrance exam study is useful but first we should understand the other person’s feelings.　When I was a student I read many novels. I wanted to see things from the other person’s point of view. When we read novels we gradually understand ‘there are people like this’ and ‘there is this way of thinking’

Even so, we cannot understand the other person’s feelings completely. We decide 「he is thinking like this」 and talk to him from our own experience but there are many people who don’t feel as we think.

As we cannot understand another’s feelings completely, we have to realize that there are many things which we, as humans, cannot know. It is important to realize that only God can understand the human mind completely or biographies of many people.

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