Japanese clinics are divided into specialist departments, such as orthopedic surgery or dermatology, and officially no official General Practitioner system. Patients must decide which department to visit according to their symptoms.
Usually each clinic has one specialized treatment department. Such as “Tokyo ophthalmology Clinic” or “Osaka ENT clinic” etc.. In those clinics often they only have one or two specialist doctors working, so if your symptom is not the specialist’s area, you will need to go to other clinic.
You are most welcome to ask us about clinics/hospitals in Japan
We can help you with the following example enquiries.
The following is the explanation of specialist department (Japanese in brackets)
Internal Medicine (Naika): They specialize in preventing, finding and treating illness in adults. Patients in Japan choose Internal Medicine as their primary doctor for regular checkups and for treating illness. They do not do operations and different to Family Doctors/GPs.
Respiratory Medicine (Kokyuki): They diagnose and treat acute and chronic respiratory problems, including Asthma, Chronic Respiratory Failure/Insufficiency. They also treat sleep related respiratory Disorders.
Gastroenterology (Syoukaki): They diagnose and treat diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterologists may perform many specialized tests, such as endoscopy, to diagnose or treat diseases.
Nephrology(Jinzounakia):They diagnose and treat diseases of the kidney and urinary system, such as inflammation of the kidneys, chronic kidney disease.
Oncology (Shuyouka): They diagnose and prescribe a variety of treatments for cancer including medication, radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, or palliative care.
Allergy and Rheumatology (Arerugi Ryumachika): They diagnose and treat immune system diseases. Allergists treat people with conditions such as asthma, eczema. Rheumatologists specialize in diseases of the joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis. They diagnose and treat lupus as well.
General Surgery (Geka): They specialize in evaluating people with potential surgical problems and performing surgical operations and techniques.
Cardiovascular Surgery (Shinnzoukekkanngeka): They specialize in surgery of the heart and blood vessels. They generally perform heart surgeries and treat people who have a blockage in the blood vessels leading to the heart (coronary artery disease) or problems with heart valves.
Neurosurgery (Noushinnkeigeka): They specialize in surgery of the brain, spinal column, and nervous system. A person may see a neurological surgeon for a problem such as a pinched nerve in the back or neck, a brain tumor, or damage to the brain or spine from an injury.
Anesthesiology(Masuika): They specialize in anesthesiology, which is the use of pain-blocking techniques or medicines (anesthetics) during surgery and other medical procedures.
Urology (Hinyoukika): They diagnose and treat diseases of the urinary system in men and women and disorders of the male reproductive system. Urologists can prescribe medicines, perform surgery, and treat urination problems. They treat problems of the male reproductive system such as impotence.
Dermatology(Hifuka): They diagnose and treat diseases and conditions of the skin, hair, or nails, such as acne, psoriasis, warts, or skin cancer. They may perform surgery for skin disorders.
Ophthalmology(Ganka): They diagnose and treat eye problems, diseases, and injuries. Ophthalmologists can diagnose and treat eye diseases, prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses; treat eye injuries; and perform eye surgeries.
Orthopaedic Surgery (Seikeigeka): They specialize in bone, muscle, and joint surgery. This includes corrective procedures, such as removing torn cartilage or replacing a joint. Some orthopedic surgeons specialize in specific areas such as shoulder surgery, hand surgery, or joint replacement.
Otolaryngology, Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) (Jibiinnkouka): They diagnose and treat diseases or conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. ENT doctors perform surgery for sinus and sleep problems, remove tonsils and tumors, help with hearing and balance problems, and more.
Rehabilitation Medicine (Rihabiritesyonnka): Rehabilitation medicine focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of people with disabling medical conditions. Rehabilitation medicine physicians work with people with disabilities to reduce the impact of their disease or disability on their daily life, to prevent avoidable complications and to minimise the effects of changing disability.
Plastic Surgery (Keiseigeka): They specialize in surgery that improves a person’s appearance, surgery for a birth defect, or surgery following an injury or the removal of cancer, such as breast implant surgery after breast removal.
Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery (koukugeka): They specialize in surgery of the mouth and jaw. Oral surgeons treat and reconstruct areas of the face, head, or neck after an injury or surgery.
Pediatrics (Syounika) : They specialize in the care of children up to 15 years old. Pediatricians can treat children with any type of problem, or they may specialize in specific areas.
Obstetrics and Gynecology (Sanfujinka) : Obstetrics specialize in the care of pregnant women, from the time of conception through delivery and the period following delivery. Most obstetricians are also gynecologists who diagnose and treat diseases of the female reproductive system and provide care for women when they are not pregnant. Gynecologists diagnose and treat diseases of the female reproductive system. Gynecologists perform surgeries and also can provide routine care, such as Pap smears or breast examinations.
Psychiatry (Seishinka) : They specialize in the behavioral or psychological difficulties associated with known or suspected neurological conditions.
Radiology(Housyasenka) : They specialize in performing and interpreting diagnostic imaging tests. They read X-rays and scans, such as chest X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRI. Personal preferences to find a clinic or hospital for your specific needs differ greatly. So it is best to ask specialized person about choices and suggestions for your conditions.