The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of a person born with severe physical disability and to discuss nursing implications in supporting the community life of a person with such disability. Using life story study approach, the life history of a woman with a congenital cerebral palsy was analyzed.
　The results include the following experiences: (a) growing up under the protection of people surrounding her, (b) emotional pain caused by own disabilities, (c) feeling helpless for not being able to help loved ones, (d) struggle with social participation, and (e) facing old age with positive attitude.
　'Emotional pain caused by own disabilities' and 'feeling helpless for not being able to help loved ones' represent unpleasant experiences caused by disability. Whil 'estruggle with social participation' and 'facing old age with positive attitude' represent the positive aspect of her experiences. The results indicated the importance of reducing sociocultural and physical barriers to disability, and empowering the person with disability through focusing on the strength and positive aspects of her experiences.

　This study aims to elucidate the meaning of daycare center that respect the culture of elderly first-generation Koreans living in Japan.
　Data collection included participant observation and interviews with three first-generation Korean residents in Japan. All three participants attended a day care center for elderly Koreans in Japan. Field notes and interviews were analyzed using Spradley's classification.
　The meaning of daycare center that respect the culture of elderly first-generation Koreans living in Japan was categorized as follows: "being with fellow Koreans living in Japan", "affirming and passing on the pride of having survived injustices", and "also having a good time with staff". In addition, the theme of "relishing with those present the fact that one has survived, and having a good time" was identified.
　These findings suggest that daycare centers that respect cultural differences provide a place for elderly individuals to meet others who share common life experiences and with whom they can relate, and where they can express themselves in regard to their experiences and values.

Purpose: To examine cultural factors by clarifying the 'yure' in the decision to make the transition to end-of-life palliative care among families of terminal cancer patients with 6 months or less to live. Yure is a Japanese word expressing the anxiety, ambivalence, conflict and confusion experienced by terminal cancer patients and their families, leading them to reconsider and retract decisions during the process of deciding on and making the transition to end-of-life palliative care.
Methods: Subjects comprised family members of patients with terminal cancer who had decided to make the transition to end-of-life palliative care while in hospital. Data were collected through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, and were analyzed using qualitative analysis.
Results and Discussion: Subjects included 6 family members (2 men, 4 women) in their 30s to 70s. The following three categories emerged as strongly related to 'yure' in decisions and retraction after deciding to make the transition to end-of-life palliative care: (1) Thankful for information provided by others as a source of help to provide the best care to the patient/Overwhelmed and confused by the large quantity and impact of the information; (2) Preparation and devotion as a caregiver/Loss of self-confidence as a caregiver when the patient's condition deteriorates; (3) Strives to understand the patient's wishes and feelings/Finds it difficult to keep being thoughtful of the intentions of the patient. The present study clarified family decision-making and attitudes toward care based on family culture, and suggested the importance of nurses providing support with due regard for the family's values.

　This study compared education about the human body and healthcare in elementary school textbooks in Japan and Finland. It was conducted as part of a research project to develop health education programs for chronic disease prevention for prepubertal children to help them understand the body and healthcare. Data collection, observation of classes, and interviews with teachers were conducted in Marttila Elementary School in Seinäjoki city in Finland in 2011. The results suggest that, in comparison to Finland, education about the human body and healthcare in elementary schools in Japan lacks substance and begins later. It is advisable for school education, university, and healthcare facilities to realize the need to enhance healthcare education for children from lower grades.

　Modern nursing has improved worldwide in many ways except one; nurses do not maintain their physiological sleep requirements for work. Many nurses to arrive for night work sleepy and experience excessive sleepiness during working hours. Like air traffic controllers and long distance truck drivers, nurses cannot afford unpredictable lapses in vigilance and decision making when working at night or as a result of shiftwork. Nurses work and live within several cultural contexts including their individual families, the workplace, and the culture of nursing itself. Because the science of sleep is still emerging, many health care institutions and academic nursing programs have not integrated sleep physiology, sleep hygiene or countermeasures for sleepiness into the education and practice. Too many nursing shift workers are excessive sleepy at night, which results nursing errors that are predictable, but very preventable. Thus, the culture of nursing and nursing workplaces must urgently address this critical problem.