Message from CEO

Thank you for visiting the website of Medical Excellence JAPAN (MEJ).

2026 is expected to bring changes at an unprecedented speed and scale in both the international landscape and the economic environment, even more so than last year. In this age where uncertainty has become the norm, healthcare is no longer merely one area of social security; it is now positioned as a core pillar of economic security and growth strategy that determines a nation’s sustainability and competitiveness.

Through MEJ’s activities over the past year, I have strongly felt that expectations for and trust in Japanese healthcare are rising worldwide to a degree greater than we had imagined. Advanced medical technologies, meticulous care that attends to each individual patient, and the strength of the professionals on the front lines who support this system—these remain values that Japan can proudly present to the world. At the same time, I am keenly aware that we must not allow these strengths to remain “closed within Japan.”

Amid increasingly complex and multipolar international political and economic conditions, Japan now stands at a critical juncture where it should advance the global expansion of its healthcare sector with a clear strategic intent. From an outbound perspective, overseas demand for Japanese medical technologies and medical devices continues to grow steadily, and interest in proton beam therapy systems and health screening–related devices shows no sign of waning. In India, expectations for the entry of Japanese companies are particularly high, and expansion not only within the Indian market but also into the Middle East and Africa using India as a hub is becoming a realistic option. This represents not only an industrial policy initiative, but also an opportunity for diplomacy and international cooperation that enhances Japan’s global presence.

On the domestic front, however, Japan’s economy—constrained structurally by aging population—can no longer sustain a conventional growth model driven by expanding demand. The healthcare sector is no exception. Traditional models premised on rising public medical expenditures and subsidies are reaching the limits of their sustainability. Precisely for this reason, we must now be prepared to redefine healthcare from something to be merely “protected” into a growth sector to be “cultivated and leveraged.”

From fiscal year 2025, the Japanese government has begun to address medical inbound services in a coordinated and full-scale manner. The high quality, attentiveness, and reliability of Japanese healthcare enjoy solid demand in the international market. In fact, I have witnessed occasions where representatives of renowned overseas medical tourism hospitals observed surgical procedures in Japan, were astonished by their high standards, and said, “We would like to send our patients to Japan.” For regional medical institutions facing low utilization rates, accepting foreign visitors and traveling patients can also become an option that both safeguards community healthcare and opens up new possibilities.

Moreover, countries such as Thailand and India are promoting longevity medicine and wellness sectors—integrating science with traditional medicine—as national strategies. Expectations for Japan, which has strong foundations in areas such as regenerative medicine, health checkups, and traditional Eastern medicine, are likely to rise even further. Now is the time for Japan to unlock its latent potential and present it to the world.

Going forward, Japan must adopt a multifaceted approach: easing supply constraints and improving productivity domestically, while simultaneously expanding its reach through proactive medical contributions to emerging countries where demand is growing. The key to success lies in integrating outbound and inbound strategies, rather than treating them separately, and in building trust through aligned efforts by government, industry, and medical professionals.

This year as well, MEJ will assess the rapidly changing international environment while resolutely promoting the globalization and industrialization of healthcare. With the aim of enabling Japanese healthcare to contribute both to global health and to Japan’s future, we hope to take steady steps forward together.

We sincerely ask for your continued strong support and participation—from government, industry, and healthcare professionals.