On November 9, 2007, the JNKA Seminar 2007 was held at the Sasakawa Memorial Hall in Sengakuji, Tokyo. Over 400 people, including the general public, attended the event, which featured lecturers Dr. Takeo Koizumi, Honorary Advisor of JNKA, and Dr. Junichi Ninomiya, President of NPO Professional Doctors Net. We are pleased to provide an overview report.

■Academic Lecture I “Fermented Foods and Control of Aging”
Mr. Takeo Koizumi, Dr. Natto and the Honorary Advisor of JNKA

Dr. Koizumi, who created the nationwide fermented food boom, spoke about the benefits of fermented foods, which are deeply related to our health and the prevention of aging.
Microorganism produce amino acids, vitamins, and enzymes that are beneficial to the human body during the fermentation process, and can be of incomparably higher nutritional and taste than the original food.
He emphasized that fermented foods make sense for the concept of Chinese medicine that “food cures disease,” and that fermented foods, including Nattokinase, are a great bridge for people to live well with aging.

■Academic Lecture II “Physiological Activity of Natto and Expectations for Nattokinase Supplement”
Dr. Junichi Ninomiya, Cardiovascular Surgeon and the President of NPO Professional Doctors Net

Dr. Ninomiya reported the results of a human clinical trial (double-blind test) on Nattokinase supplement.
Thirty elderly patients (15 women and 15 men, average of 59 years old) who are taking warfarin were divided into 2 groups, and given Nattokinase supplements as a test for 6 months to compare clinical symptoms and various biochemical tests.
As the conclusion of the study, it was reported that the Nattokinase intake group led to an improvement in quality of life compared to the placebo group.
He also expressed his hope that clinical trials on hypertension and dyslipidemia will be promoted, and that more scientific synergistic effects on antithrombotic activity will be elucidated.

■Lecturer Profile　Dr. Takeo Koizumi

Professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture and the Honorary Advisor of JNKA.
Specialized in zymurgy, zymology and applied microbiology.
Born in 1943 at Fukushima Prefecture. His family has been in the sake brewing business for generations.
Graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture, Department of Fermentation Science. Doctor of Agriculture.
A part-time lecturer at Hiroshima University, a joint researcher at the National Museum of Ethnology, a member of NHK’s International Broadcasting Program Council, a board member of Tokyo Microscope Foundation, and chairman of the Japan Tokyo Slow Food Association.
Currently, he is widely active in newspapers, magazines, television, lectures, NHK and the evening edition of the Nikkei. He has authored 95 books and co-authored 22 books.

President of NPO Professional Doctors Net
Director of Health Station Promotion Organization and Former Associate Professor at Nippon Medical School
Specializes in cardiovascular surgery and medical prostheses.
After graduating from the Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School in 1977, he studied as a cardiovascular surgeon at the National Children’s Hospital and at the University of Toronto’s Department of Cardiovascular Surgery.
He served as a lecturer at Nippon Medical School and a visiting professor at the Department of Artificial Organs, Cleveland Clinic, USA.
He has been developing and commercializing small assistive hearts for 17 years, and is currently researching next-generation types.
Cardiovascular surgeon, cardiologist, industrial physician and sports doctor