Our Story

My journey into healthcare began on the surgical wards of a Japanese university hospital — a world of precision, dedication, and some of the highest standards of nursing care I have ever witnessed. Driven by a desire to see medicine from a different angle, I went on to study nursing in Canada, then took my skills to sea, working as a nurse aboard Princess Cruises. Later, I earned my U.S. nursing license, adding another perspective to a career that had already taken me across three countries and countless cultures.

Through every step of that journey, one thing stayed with me: Japan's healthcare system is genuinely exceptional — but for those who don't speak Japanese or understand how the system works, it can feel completely out of reach.

The Gap I Kept Seeing

After marrying internationally and raising a family in Japan, I began meeting people who were struggling in a way I recognized deeply — not from illness itself, but from not knowing where to turn. Expats, travelers, long-term residents. People who were sick or injured and simply didn't know which clinic to go to, couldn't communicate with the staff when they arrived, or didn't even know Japan's healthcare system was available to them.

At the same time, working in emergency rooms and clinics across Japan, I saw the other side of that same wall. Wonderful, skilled medical professionals — visibly anxious when a foreign patient walked through the door. Not because they didn't want to help, but because the tools to bridge the gap just weren't there.

Both sides were trying. Neither side had what they needed.

Why healthtomo Exists

Two years ago, I decided to build what I kept wishing existed: a platform where internationally-minded clinics and English-speaking (or international-patient-ready) providers could be found easily — and where patients could not only search and book, but arrive informed and prepared.

The name says it all. Health — because that's what this is for. Tomo (友) — the Japanese word for friend, and also for tomorrow (明日, ashita). We want to be the friend who walks with you through an unfamiliar system, and we believe a healthier tomorrow is possible when no one has to face it alone.

Our goal is simple: help people find the right clinic, make the appointment, and make sure the clinic is ready to welcome them — so that from the moment they walk in the door, care can actually begin.

About the Founder

Licensed in both Japan and the United States, she has worked across surgical wards, emergency departments, and clinics throughout Japan, served as a cruise ship nurse with Princess Cruises, and contributed to global health through JICA medical remote projects in Kenya and Tonga, including medical interpretation support.

healthtomo launched in 2024. Since then, it has been recognized as a semifinalist in the Kanagawa Business Grand Prix and has been featured in the HVMC Entrepreneur Project.

For everyone living, working, or traveling in Japan — we're here when you need care.