Annual memorial service for animals held

A memorial service was held in Lecture Room #3 at the School of Medicine on Monday, 21 October 2024. This year marked the first in-person ceremony in five years, attended by 142 faculty members and students from BRI, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Dentistry.

The service opened with remarks by BRI Deputy Director and Professor Hideaki Matsui, followed by a report on FY2023 activities from Professor Toshikuni Sasaoka (Dept of Comparative & Experimental Medicine).

Attendees then paid their respects with a floral tribute, expressing gratitude and offering comfort to the spirits of the animals who gave their lives to support education and research at Niigata University.

The program concluded with a lecture by Professor Tsuyoshi Shimmura from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, entitled "What is Animal Welfare?"

On the following day, Tuesday, 22 October, Professor Shimmura delivered an additional lecture at the Library Hall of Niigata University's Ikarashi Campus. Faculty members and students from both the Ikarashi and Asahimachi campuses, as well as veterinarians from Niigata Prefecture responsible for industrial animals, attended. The session included a Q&A on animal welfare concerning laboratory and industrial animals, emphasizing the importance of understanding and implementing animal welfare practices.

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A video recording of the lecture is available for on-campus viewing only.
▶ Watch the lecture video