Names in the programme record: Akira Kawai (Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation Medicine, first-listed staff in Annual Report 2024)
Profile completeness92%
Comprehensive · Missing faculty profile
DECISION SUMMARY
Key facts at a glance
Eligibility
International route mentioned
Funding
Observership is currently free. NCC gives no financial support for travel and cannot help find funding; visitors pay all travel, accommodation, insurance and living costs (no dormitory).
Deadline
No fixed deadline. Formal applications must be submitted at least three months before the start date (NCC recommends 3-6 months; inquiry 6-12 months ahead).
Duration
Normally 5 to 90 days (short visits of 1-3 days also possible); limited to 90 days by visa rules
Hands-on
No hands-on role indicated
Clinical exposureHands-in-pocket observation and shadowing only (no hands-on training) in NCC Hospital's sarcoma surgery department. The department is Japan's largest centre for malignant bone and soft tissue tumours, with 348 operations in FY2024 (205 for primary bone/soft tissue sarcoma) and 6-10 major tumour surgeries a week. It runs multidisciplinary sarcoma, paediatric oncology, retroperitoneal sarcoma and bone-metastasis conferences, and does JCOG and international trials. A certificate of attendance is issued for visits over 3 days.
Participation levelObservational pathway. No independent patient care or operative privileges are implied.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
Can an international surgeon apply?
≈Partially published
International applicants
Foreign cancer-specialist doctors are accepted for free, observation-only visits of up to 90 days if they show English at IELTS 6.0/TOEFL iBT 60 level and immunity to MMR and varicella; no hands-on work is allowed without a Japanese licence.
?Confirm directly with host
Clinical role
Observational pathway; no independent patient care is implied. Hands-on clinical activity is not described for this observational pathway.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
No Japanese registration needed for observation. Physical contact with or consultation of patients is not allowed unless the visitor holds a Japanese MHLW licence.
✓Published by official source
Language
English (IELTS Academic 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 60 or equivalent). Japanese not required; translation devices do not count as oral communication.
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Stays are limited to 90 days (short-term stay). NCC issues an invitation letter, plus a letter to the Japanese embassy/consulate for those who need a visa. Visa applicants are encouraged to apply up to one year ahead.
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY97% of core application fields verifiedChecked 8 Oct 2026 · Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-04-06
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ positions✓ commencement / intake✓ funding✓ benefits✓ accommodation / relocation✓ eligibility✓ international eligibility✓ language✓ registration✓ visa / work authorisation✓ deadline✓ application process✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— Verified faculty photograph not available · queued for source review
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadlineNo fixed deadline. Formal applications must be submitted at least three months before the start date (NCC recommends 3-6 months; inquiry 6-12 months ahead).
Commencing dateNo fixed intake. Start date is agreed with NCC; schedule changes are generally not accepted.
Application route / cycleRolling. Submit the online inquiry 6-12 months before the desired start. Once cleared, upload the formal application at least 3-6 months before the start date. Invitation letter follows authorisation.
Doctors or researchers specialising in cancer (students not accepted)
English proficiency including oral communication, i.e. IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL iBT 60 or equivalent
Immunity certificates for mumps, measles, rubella and varicella (two-dose vaccination records or EIA antibody titres)
Medical licence copy or equivalent and a reference letter (visits over 3 days)
Application documents
Application form (visits of 4-90 days) or short-visit form (1-3 days)
Immunity verification certificates
Passport copy
Medical licence copy or equivalent
CV
Reference letter
Declaration forms for Security Export Controls
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
NCC Japan runs free observership visits of 5-90 days for cancer-specialist doctors, hosted by one department. This includes the Tsukiji Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Japan's highest-volume sarcoma surgery unit. Visits are observation only, need IELTS 6.0-level English and immunity certificates, and must be applied for at least 3 months ahead after an online inquiry 6-12 months before.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Certificate of attendance (visits over 3 days); orientation on day one; English-language communication; hotel and accommodation lists supplied. No meals, housing or stipend.
ACCOMMODATION & RELOCATION
Published housing information
✓ Official source mentions accommodation
⌂
Accommodation is mentioned in the published funding or benefits information: Certificate of attendance (visits over 3 days); orientation on day one; English-language communication; hotel and accommodation lists supplied. No meals, housing or stipend.
HOST INSTITUTION
About National Cancer Center Hospital (Tsukiji), Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation Medicine
National Cancer Center Japan is a national tertiary cancer centre. Its Tsukiji hospital department of Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation Medicine has treated bone and soft tissue tumours since 1962. It has the largest malignant bone and soft tissue tumour caseload in Japan and is a central JCOG trial site (including a JCOG-EORTC study).
Kanazawa University Hospital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery (bone and soft tissue tumour group)
Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan · Clinical training (臨床修練): up to 2 years under an MHLW permit, renewable by reapplication. Observership: length not published.View program profile →
