Prof. Uchida set his sights on medical school in his first year of high school— a sharp turn from the future he had once imagined.

“During my time at Keio Chutobu Junior High School, I was fascinated by the Maya and Aztec civilizations, spending hours reading books and visiting museums. I dreamed of entering the Faculty of Letters at Keio University after high school and becoming an archaeologist.”

That dream changed dramatically during his first year of high school, sparked by a single book.

“A book by psychiatrist Teruo Miyanishi left a profound impact on me. Dr. Miyanishi explored the Maya civilization’s views on life, death, and traditional medicine from a psychiatric perspective. His approach, so different from the traditional humanities, was strikingly refreshing. I realized that it would be far more engaging to pursue psychiatry and study archaeology through a scientific lens rather than follow the path of the Faculty of Letters. That is how I resolved to become a psychiatrist.”

Prof. Uchida was later accepted into Keio University School of Medicine. While studying to become a psychiatrist, he kept up his interest in ancient civilizations and sociology through independent reading. But once he began seeing patients firsthand, his focus started to shift.

“Naturally, my top priority became figuring out how to help patients get better— in other words, therapeutics. I started focusing especially on pharmacotherapy and brain imaging, both of which play key roles.”

One of Prof. Uchida’s main areas of focus has been developing new treatments for depression.

“Depression affects roughly 6.5% of people over their lifetime, and that number keeps rising. Yet about 30% of patients don’t respond to conventional treatments. Finding new options for these treatment-resistant cases is a pressing social issue.”

In the course of his research, Prof. Uchida once again encountered the mysteries of the Maya civilization that had captivated him back in high school.

“One of the most talked-about topics in psychiatry today is psychedelics, substances once labeled as hallucinogens. Their effectiveness in treating depression has been known for decades, and clinical trials in the 1960s confirmed their therapeutic potential. But in 1970, psychedelics were classified as narcotics, halting research almost entirely. Things began to shift in the 1990s. In 1994, clinical findings were published for the first time in nearly 20 years. Since then, efforts to formally approve psychedelic research have gained traction, leading to a wave of clinical trials. Today, psychedelics are among the hottest topics in psychiatric research.”

But as Prof. Uchida points out, it’s not a new concept at all.

“One such psychedelic, psilocybin, is found in magic mushrooms. These mushrooms were used in Maya and Aztec civilizations in sacred and religious rituals and as traditional remedies for depression and anxiety. In fact, psychedelics have been handed down for thousands of years as part of Indigenous medical practice.”

In a way, Prof. Uchida had come full circle, back to the world of ancient civilizations he had once immersed himself in as a high school student.
But psychedelics also include well-known illicit drugs like LSD and MDMA. Naturally, some people wonder if it’s really safe to use these kinds of substances in treatment.

“I do get asked if this kind of research is dangerous, but when you look at relative risk levels, LSD scores a 7, and magic mushrooms a 6, which is much lower than alcohol at 72 or tobacco at 26. Of course, I wouldn’t say they’re completely safe, but their risk levels are relatively low.”

What’s even more groundbreaking are the therapeutic effects themselves.

“Among psychedelics, psilocybin has demonstrated exceptionally strong antidepressant effects, and they take hold quickly. What’s more, some studies suggest the benefits can last from six months to a year. There’s even hope it could lead to a lasting cure. Considering traditional treatments work for only about 70% of patients, this is a potentially game-changing discovery that could transform the field of psychiatry. It’s incredibly exciting.”

While clinical trials are well underway in Europe and North America, Asia is still at the starting line. Prof. Uchida is now leading the charge to launch the region’s first trial. Because these substances are classified as narcotics, clearing the necessary legal and regulatory hurdles took significant time. Now, Prof. Uchida says, they’ve finally reached the starting line.

His five-year goal is to bring psychedelics into mainstream clinical use. To do that, partnering with pharmaceutical companies is essential.

“No matter how hard a single researcher works, they can’t bring a new drug to the public alone. So, I reached Otsuka Pharmaceutical, a leading company in psychiatric and neurological disorders. That led to the launch of a joint research project focused on bringing psychedelics into clinical use. Since these substances are still considered narcotics, the key issue is how to ensure they’re introduced safely. This involves establishing systems for training therapists, doctors, and psychologists, as well as determining which medical institutions will be authorized to administer them. We’re now tackling these challenges through a collaborative industry–academia project.”

Prof. Uchida continues to tackle his work with tireless energy. When asked whether he’s ever felt discouraged or defeated, Prof. Uchida pauses for a moment before replying. “No, I haven’t. Even when things get tough, I often find myself enjoying the challenge. Maybe it’s that my curiosity about what lies on the other side is stronger than any sense of failure.” If he had to name one, it would be during his time as a visiting researcher at the University of Toronto.

“I was set to stay for three years, but the head of our lab was recruited away just after my first year, and the lab was shut down. I was completely at a loss until a senior colleague suggested we build a new lab together. I said yes. From raising funds to handling every other aspect of the process, everything was new to me, but we somehow managed to pull it off. People would comment on how tough it must have been, but I honestly enjoyed it. It was a small lab, so I had to do everything myself, and that experience still helps me today. They say that you should work hard and push yourself while you’re young, even if you have to go looking for challenges. I think that’s absolutely true.”

Prof. Uchida never says he’s “busy.” Even when something unpleasant comes up, he shrugs it off as “no big deal.” That kind of mindset, he says, has become second nature over time. His resilience may also be grounded in judo, a practice he’s continued since his student days. Today, he’s also head of the School of Medicine’s judo club.

Prof. Uchida’s personal motto is “triple effort.” The phrase comes from Masahiko Kimura, the legendary judoka who was once called the greatest martial artist of all time, remembered by the phrase “No Kimura before Kimura, no Kimura after.”

“If you want to achieve anything, effort has to come first. With twice the effort, others will catch up. But if you put in three times the effort, no one can. That’s what he said, and I think he was right. There are so many exceptional people in the world. I’ve always thought: I’m just an ordinary guy, so I have no choice but to outwork them.”

Though he holds himself to a high standard, Prof. Uchida also has a welcoming side. For instance, he always keeps his lab door open so that young doctors and students feel comfortable dropping by. He’s also thoughtful about how he interacts with the next generation.

“Even if someone is younger, I try not to impose my views. Sometimes they’re right, or they know more, or they’re more skilled. I often find myself learning from them. Part of Keio’s founding philosophy is hangaku hankyo—learning while teaching, teaching while learning—and I think that captures it perfectly.”

In the corner of his office is a framed photo gifted to him by his junior colleagues. Knowing his love of martial arts, they gave him a rare, limited-edition shot of the legendary match between Antonio Inoki and Tiger Jeet Singh. The gift speaks to Prof. Uchida’s warm character and just how deeply he’s respected by the people around him.

We asked Prof. Uchida what kind of person is best suited to becoming a doctor or a researcher, especially for high school students considering a future in medicine.

“The job of a doctor is to help people feel even a little bit better. That’s why people who are genuinely interested in others are best suited to medicine. Without that interest, it’s hard to keep going. Researchers, on the other hand—regardless of whether they come from the sciences or humanities—need a relentless drive to uncover the truth.”

He also spoke about what makes studying at Keio University School of Medicine so unique.

“One of the strengths of the School of Medicine is how few barriers exist between clinical departments. The same goes for basic researchers and clinicians. It's easy to ask colleagues for advice, and it’s natural to suggest collaborating. There’s a real sense of camaraderie, and that’s a big part of what makes it such a great environment.”

Prof. Uchida has been part of Keio since junior high, and his love for the university runs deep. “Keio is a comprehensive university, so I often get to work with professors from other faculties. There are so many top experts outside my own field, and learning from them has been incredibly valuable. You don’t get breakthroughs by sticking to one field. New ideas come from clashing with people in totally different disciplines. That’s what makes Keio such a great environment.”

When asked for a message to high school students, Prof. Uchida gave an answer full of the optimism and energy he’s known for.

“You’re living in a truly exciting era. From technologies like AI to the climate crisis and space exploration, society is changing dramatically. And in the next 10, 20, or 30 years, the pace of change will only accelerate. Growing up and stepping into the world in a time like this is an incredible opportunity.

Keio was founded in 1858 by Yukichi Fukuzawa as a school for Dutch studies. That was a time of massive change in Japan—Commodore Perry had just arrived, isolation was ending, and the country was racing to modernize. In that era of upheaval, Keio emerged and began producing leaders in society. And now, we’re seeing the same kind of transformation all over again.

Keio is full of role models—people who are out in front, leading society—and it offers an environment that brings out more potential than you ever thought you had. I’d be proud to see more students with that spirit become part of Keio.”

Prof. Uchida is now working to establish a new academic field he calls “psychedelic studies.” “I want to explore the human mind by bringing together people from many different fields, including medicine, basic science, neuroscience, sociology, anthropology, and religion,” says Prof. Uchida. His passion for exploration shows no sign of slowing down.

Hiroyuki Uchida

Professor, Department of Neuropsychiatry
Keio University School of Medicine
Prof. Uchida graduated from Keio University School of Medicine in 1998. After completing his residency and serving as a staff physician, he earned his Ph.D. in Neuropsychiatry (Internal Medicine) from Keio in 2002. He then completed a clinical research fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto before returning to Keio as an Assistant Professor. He was later promoted to Lecturer and then Associate Professor and has held his current position since April 2023. His main research areas include clinical psychopharmacology, brain imaging, and resilience.

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