About this site
Who writes this
Every article on this site is written and medically reviewed by a doctor holding a Japanese medical licence issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省), currently working in clinical practice in Japan.
Why a pen name
The author writes under the name Dr. Masa in order to keep clinical work and public writing separate. This is a common arrangement for practising doctors who write, and it is stated openly here rather than obscured: the name is a pen name, the licence and the clinical practice behind it are real.
What that means in practice: this site will never claim an institutional affiliation it does not have, never present itself as a hospital or clinic, and never offer individual medical advice. What it offers is an explanation of how Japanese healthcare actually works, written by someone who works inside it.
What this site is not
- Not a medical consultation. We cannot answer questions about your symptoms, your results or your treatment, and we do not accept individual medical enquiries.
- Not an insurance broker. Much of the English-language information about Japanese healthcare exists to sell private insurance, which distorts how the public system gets described. We sell no insurance and receive no commission from anyone who does.
- Not a clinic directory you can buy your way into. See our editorial and listing policy.
How it is funded
By readers. Guides are free; some in-depth guides and the clinic directory will be paid. No clinic, hospital, pharmaceutical company or insurer pays for coverage, placement or ranking here, and none ever will — the independence is the product.
Corrections
Medical and regulatory information changes, and errors are possible. If you believe something here is wrong or out of date, please say so; corrections are made promptly and noted on the page.