Dr. Yu Matsumoto received his M.D. in 2000 and Ph.D. in 2009 from The University of Tokyo. He completed his residency and early clinical training in otorhinolaryngology and later engaged in advanced research in clinical biotechnology, contributing to the development of intravital real-time confocal laser scanning microscopy systems. His current clinical focus is on otologic surgery, particularly transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES), and improving surgical education and technique. He currently serves as Chief of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Tokyo Metropolitan Police Hospital. Dr. Matsumoto is a certified ear surgeon by the Japan Otological Society and is an active member of the Science Council of Japan, the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, the Otological Society of Japan, and The Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan.

Education:

1984-1990 M.D., Osaka University Medical School, Suita

1992-1996 Ph.D., Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University Medical School, Suita

Professional Experiences:

2009-2012, Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita

2012-present, Director, Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Sakai

2021-present, Vice-President, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Sakai

Research experience:

1996-1998, Fellow of the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst: DAAD), Department of Physiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

Professional Societies:

Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan, Otological Society of Japan, Japan Rhinologic Society, Japan Society for Equilibrium Research, Barany Society (Uppsala, Sweden)

Major Interest: 

Otologic surgery, Sinus surgery

Seiji Kakehata, M.D., Ph.D. is best known for his work in pioneering endoscopic ear surgery in his home country of Japan and around the world. He served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine until March of 2023 after which he became Professor Emeritus. In May of 2023, he opened the Endoscopic Ear Surgery Center in the Ota General Hospital in Kawasaki Japan to make TEES more accessible to the wider public. He is also the immediate past Chair of Board of Directors, Japan Otological Society. He is a director of the Japanese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. In addition, he is a founding board member of the International Working Group on Endoscopic Ear Surgery (IWGEES) and its immediate past president as well as the president of the Pan-Asia Working Group on Endoscopic Ear Surgery (PAWGEES).

Dr. Kakehata’s clinical interests include minimally invasive endoscopic ear surgery, conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and facial nerve palsy. Dr. Kakehata’s research has focused on cochlear hair cell physiology and hearing regeneration. His funded research includes the study of outer hair cell motility, effects of cholesterol alterations on outer hair cells, regeneration of the facial nerve, and regeneration of auditory nerve fiber growth and synapse formation after ear injury.

Dr. Kakehata hosted the 4th World Congress on Endoscopic Ear Surgery in 2022 and is the president-elect of the 36th Politzer Society Meeting to be held in 2028 in Kyoto. He organized and conducted the first endoscopic ear surgery courses in Asia and has continued to host an annual hands-on course since 2012. He has delivered numerous presentations at regional and national meetings in Japan, as well as at international conferences and courses, particularly in the field of endoscopic ear surgery.

Full Professor in Otoloaryngology

Head of ENT Department

University of Modena and Reggio Emilia