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I’ve Always Loved New Things In the 1970s in Japan, printing was still done using mimeograph stencils—something younger generations today have likely never seen.Then came word processors in the late ’70s, which felt like pure innovation.Soon after, personal computers emerged. Back then, document creation in Japan was done with a software called Ichitaro .Data was stored on thin 8-inch floppy disks , and PCs were very expensive—yet I still bought and replaced about three mach

Why Start a Business at This Age? People often ask, “Why start a business now?”My life has never followed a smooth path. I grew up as what Japan calls a “sibling carer”  — a child who has a brother or sister with a severe illness or disability.Children like us often face emotional challenges, such as instability or difficulties in relationships.I also struggled with conforming to the status quo.Standing up for what felt right was the only path I knew. Over many years, I learn

Introduction: Has Health Insurance Changed How Physicians Work? After publishing Part 1 of “Choosing Wisely,” I received many insightful comments.Some readers wrote: “In Japan, physicians provide care assuming treatment is always necessary.But without imagination or dialogue, can we truly provide care that protects a patient’s quality of life?” “When I was a young nurse, I never questioned Japanese medical culture.Now I see many issues that must be discussed by society as a

<Introduction – Stepping away from “leave-it-to-the-doctor” medicine> I have worked in healthcare as a nurse for many years in Japan and later experienced studying abroad in the United States in my 50s. Through those years, I encountered many situations in which I deeply felt the differences between Japanese and American medical culture. In Japan, careful and attentive medical care is considered a symbol of “safety.”In the U.S., on the other hand, a strong emphasis is placed

Volunteer Experience: Nursing Home / Evergreen Hospital Besides studying, I volunteered at Keiro Nursing Home and Evergreen Hospital in Seattle. Volunteering required not only an application but also attending lectures and passing exams on safety and infection control. At the nursing home, I mainly assisted with meals. At Evergreen Hospital, I helped guide people at the reception desk and assisted with the transport of patients being admitted or discharged. Since hospital sta

<Days Immersed in English and Classroom Experiences> Before going abroad, I had never been taught how to structure an academic paper at university. So writing essays in English every day was extremely challenging. I often worked until 2–3 a.m. and still attended class at 9 a.m. the next morning.Yet, as I continued writing daily, I gradually learned how to structure writing—even in Japanese. I believe this experience helped me significantly when I later needed to write essays

<A harsh environment at my assignment and the reason for my resignation> In 1999, I was ordered to transfer from a university hospital to a hospital in Tokyo. The circumstances led me to decide to study abroad before 50 as a nurse. I was told the purpose was to serve as the “Head of Nursing Education,” but the true intention was unclear. That marked the beginning of a long commute...: two and a half hours one way, changing four trains. I would take the first train around 5:10

The Long Road Before We Had a Diagnosis My younger brother was three years younger than I, and around the age of three he began showing symptoms similar to a collagen disease. This is a personal record of my life as siblings of a child with rare disease. He underwent many tests...Eventually, at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo, he was diagnosed with polyarteritis nodosa. From then on, he continued his fight against the illness and pain, managed with a strong analgesic called

<Introduction> In recent years, customer harassment in healthcare (known as “kasu-hara” in Japan) has become a major social issue.　When I think back on my long career in the medical field, what strongly remains in my memory is the term “monster patient.” Today, I would like to share some of my own experiences and reflect on how we can face irrational and aggressive behavior. <A visitor “test-riding” a wheelchair — the fear I felt as a new nurse> When I had just started my car

Introduction How do we face the final moments of someone we love? Even after working in nursing for many decades, the answer has never been simple for me. Being at both my father’s and my mother’s bedside as they approached the end of life deeply shaped who I am today. I would like to share those memories here. My Father’s Final Days: The Decision for Surgery and a Peaceful Farewell at Home My father passed away in July 1998, shortly after turning 80. By the time stomach ca