Namidabashi Lab.

Consultants for Health System Strengthening in Developing Worlds

Can we drop tears of relief?

The literal meaning of "Namidabashi" is “the bridge (bashi) of tears (Namida).” It was a small bridge located at the Omoi River near the Kozukappara execution grounds. The bridge was the place where a condemned person bid the last farewell of his or her life; it was the place of his or her repentance and the last place the families, relatives, and friends saw the person. The Namidabashi Bridge was named so because both—the dying and the living—shed tears on the bridge.

"Namida" of Namidabashi referred to the tears shed because of the regrets and unbearable pain in our lives.

However, after the reclamation of the Omoi River, the Namidabashi Bridge was removed and a concrete road was laid in its place. Today, only the name “Namidabashi” exists as the name of the intersection.

Even so, people cross the Namidabashi intersection as if they are crossing a bridge, including people living in cheap guesthouses, office workers living in apartments, artisans working in Asakusa traditional industries, Japanese travelers, foreign travelers staying at guesthouses, and people who like bars, cafes, restaurants.

It was the town the condemned persons passed by in the Edo era, and which was famous for its population of day laborers. But today, it is becoming the place where people come to earn their livelihood.

Is it possible to reframe the meaning of "tears" taking into account the changes that have happened around Namidabashi?

We still face regrets and unbearable pain in our lives: not just in Namidabashi, San'ya, or Japan, but regardless of our ethnicity, nationality, and occupation.

We would like to seek an ideal society that values more relief, and peace of mind in life.

Can we drop tears of relief?

Our Consultation Services

We are engaged in the following consultation services on international cooperation in health, health system strengthening in Japan and the developing worlds, and the health of migrants. Also, we plan to develop activities focusing on the relationship between community design and health in the future.

Process Gardening

We are working to create changes in a self-organizing manner among people, organizations, and the local community. To that end, we emphasize three things: making the process for change open, creating a "fluctuation" that creates continuous changes, and asking questions for the future that we want to realize.

Research

In order to formulate project plans, policies and measures, and to improve their quality, we systematically collect and analyze information and data, and extract and organize knowledge. In particular, we will propose a scientific and feasible research methodology in a resource-limited situation, based on our experiences in developing countries.

Project Evaluation

Value judgment etc. based on facts and dialogues among stakeholders regarding plans, achievement status, and processes (We provide ideas whether or not it was a good project, what was good or bad, what kind of process happened). Also, based on the evaluation results, we extract and develop recommendations and lessons learned that can be useful.

What Co-workers & Clients Say

Japanese Development Workers

Japan

"I was able to learn about attitude and thoughts for development that I had not experienced in my previous work."
"I'm still jealous about your trying anything. Please do your best!"

Development Workers in Overseas

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

"Hope you have recovered from your long trip in the DRC. I've been much pleased to work with you."

Clients

Iran-Health Sector Survey

"In addition to collecting information and data at the field, I appreciated that you completed interviewing Japanese medical device manufacturers, reviewing academic papers, and so on, within a limited contract period."