Since I wrote my last piece I have been lucky enough to visit Japan. One of my principle objectives was to attend the All Together Better Health conference, which convened the global academic community to discuss interprofessional education in relation to health care. British universities were well represented and gave an excellent account of themselves in relation to the many initiatives that are taking place in the UK. We were not alone, as delegates from Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Canada, Indonesia, Iran and Japan eagerly competed to discuss the burning issues that they were dealing with, both in their own countries and more globally. Discussion was animated and intense, taking place not only in the conference rooms, but also in hotels, bars and coffee shops all over the city of Kobe. Nurses were well represented within these discussions but were certainly not the single dominant voice as medics, pharmacists, physiotherapists and others competed for pole position. As the discussions developed there were a number of issues that I feel duty bound to report back to you. Issues that I know you will want to comment on, discuss and maybe even act upon. This was the first conference of its kind that had been delivered in a non-English speaking country and the simultaneous translation of Japanese to English and English to Japanese added to the majesty of the occasion. The opening keynote lecture was given by Dr Patrick Kelly, the Director of the Board of Global Health at the Institute of Medicine in the USA, and was delivered in English. An apparent advocate, he reviewed recent history in relation to interprofessional health professional education in a realistic and sensible fashion, talking about some of the tensions and barriers involved. Complimentary about the nursing profession and alluding to its potential to lead the interprofessional team in some situations, he warned against tribalism and the inflexibility of some medics and others. Indeed he articulated his support while acknowledging that some medics still Lyn Karstadt