Apart from Sushi, Tokyo and Mt. Fuji; my understanding of Japan was absolutely nothing. Back in India, we do not really grow up reading Japanese manga (comics). The only Japanese word I knew was ‘Sayonara’ (Goodbye) and that too because of the popular 1966 Bollywood film ‘Love in Tokyo’. The TV cartoons however, are still immensely popular.

Burnout amongst scientists and physicians is a silent epidemic.

Teenage and young adult suicide rides have continued to rise, and mental health issues are a pressing issue among undergraduate and high school studies. Our universities and workplaces have become a hunting ground for competition and bullying. Meanwhile, the amount of knowledge and skills required to succeed in the biomedical sciences have exponentiated. Coupled with an ever more difficult funding environment, training pathways and copious documentation for healthcare professionals, it becomes ever more important to address burnout for those in the biomedical field. I write about burnout not because I have the perfect solution to offer, but because it is a struggle I face every day.