General– category –

Japan consistently ranks among the top countries in the world for healthcare outcomes, life expectancy, and access to medical services. Yet for foreigners living in or visiting Japan, the system can feel confusing and opaque. This guide ...

If you have searched for mental health care in Japan, you have probably encountered the term "psychosomatic medicine" (心療内科 / shinryō naika). This medical specialty is widespread in Japan — you will find psychosomatic medicine clinic...

Whether you need proof of illness for your employer, documentation for a visa application, a fitness-to-fly certificate, or a medical report for an insurance claim, obtaining a medical certificate in Japan is a common but often confusing...

If you live in or frequently travel to Japan, jet lag is a familiar companion. Tokyo is 13–17 hours ahead of the US and 8–9 hours ahead of Europe, making it one of the most extreme time-zone offsets for Western travelers. Whether you're ...

Turning 40 is a milestone that comes with plenty of cultural baggage — but from a medical perspective, it's genuinely important. Your body at 40 is different from your body at 25, and the health risks you face begin to shift in meaningfu...

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common health conditions affecting men — and one of the least discussed. Studies estimate that over 50% of men between 40 and 70 experience some degree of erectile difficulty. In Japan, the nu...

Every year between December and March, influenza sweeps through Japan with remarkable predictability. For expatriates living in Tokyo, flu season brings a set of challenges that may be unfamiliar: different vaccine timing, rapid diagnost...

If you've recently moved to Japan and suddenly find yourself sneezing, congested, and rubbing itchy eyes every spring, you're not imagining things. Japan has one of the highest rates of hay fever (kafunsho / 花粉症) in the world, affecti...

Most people have heard of menopause — the hormonal shift that women experience in midlife. But far fewer are aware that men go through a similar, albeit more gradual, change. Known as andropause (or "male menopause"), this condition invo...

Testosterone is more than just a "sex hormone." It plays a central role in energy levels, muscle maintenance, bone density, cognitive function, cardiovascular health, and emotional well-being. When levels drop below normal — a condition ...