Kanagawa-Maryland Healthy Aging and ME-BYO Symposium
By Kanagawa Prefecture, UMBC and the State of Maryland
July 20, 2026
Advancing Healthy Aging Beyond Borders: The 2026 Kanagawa-Maryland Symposium at UMBC
What a truly inspiring day! We just wrapped up the 2026 Kanagawa-Maryland Healthy Aging and Me-Byo Symposium here at UMBC, and it was an incredible opportunity to bring together visionary leaders from government, academia, and industry to discuss the future of healthy aging across cultural and national borders.
A huge thank you to our Provost, Dr. Manfred van Dulmen, for delivering the welcoming remarks and officially kicking off this milestone international event!
The symposium featured a phenomenal lineup of experts who are shaping the future of global longevity:
Governor Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture delivered a powerful keynote address on Kanagawa’s innovative Me-Byo policy for aging populations.
Ms. Liz Woodword brought the focus locally, addressing the critical Longevity Ready Maryland policies.
Mr. Stephen McHugh (JCIE) showcased highly successful healthy aging programs that are actively bridging Japan and the United States.
Dr. Yoshihiro Yasunaga provided a fascinating, futuristic overview of Cyberdyne’s HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limbs)—a neuro-controlled wearable exoskeleton (wearable cyborg)—and its transformative applications for aging societies.
I had the distinct honor of chairing the symposium and moderating our panel discussions on cross-national collaborations in healthy aging education and research. It was a thrill to introduce the case of UMBC’s Global Aging and Health in Japan study abroad program as a model for international student engagement.
Our brilliant panel members—Dr. Nancy Kusmaul, Dr. Dana Bradley, Dr. Diane Martin, and Ms. Alexandria McBride—shared their invaluable experiences and insights on cross-national education and research. We had a deep, engaging conversation about the potential impacts these global collaborations can have on both Kanagawa’s Me-Byo policy and the Longevity Ready Maryland initiative.
Events like this remind us that the challenges and triumphs of an aging society are a shared human experience. By collaborating across sectors and borders, we can build a healthier, more vibrant future for older adults everywhere.
Thank you to everyone who presented, attended, and helped make this symposium a massive success!
This video features photographs from the Kanagawa-Maryland Healthy Aging and Me-Byo Symposium, including faculty presentations, attendee discussions, and an exchange with guests from Kanagawa Prefecture.
Photo credit: Lenny Frieson – New Media Studio, UMBC, Division of Information Technology