My History
Our clinic is a specialty orthodontic practice located in Chofu City, Tokyo. I was born into a family of dentists that spans several generations, so pursuing dentistry came naturally to me. After completing graduate school with a focus on orthodontics, I spent long days at the university hospital treating patients while staying up-to-date with academic papers and the latest developments in the field.
After taking over my father’s clinic, I made it a priority to study not only treatment techniques but also the art of patient care. My inspiration came not only from the medical field but also from industries such as dining, hotels, and aviation. I examined what makes people feel reassured and what causes discomfort.
Doctors often have a tendency to appear condescending. But in today’s world, where clinic reputations are easily visible online, I believe that only clinics where patients feel truly comfortable will continue to thrive. Orthodontic treatment is also long-term and costly. If I were the patient, paying one million yen and committing to years of visits, what kind of service would I expect? I ask myself this constantly. With successful treatment as a baseline, I carefully consider how our clinic can stand out.
For example, we avoid using careless, commanding phrases like “Open your mouth quickly” during treatment. Think about it—if the patient were a celebrity the doctor admired, would the doctor speak in such a tone? Probably not. Such expressions lack respect. That is why, in our clinic, we confirm the patient’s posture and whether they feel pain, then clearly explain the next step so they can feel safe and comfortable.
Because our clinic is not in central Tokyo, we initially struggled to attract patients. Still, I was confident that “if we treat each patient sincerely and deliver both excellent care and genuine hospitality, we will succeed.” In fact, by consistently upholding this attitude and building trust, the number of patients gradually increased over four to five years, and today our clinic has grown to welcome patients even from far away.
The Present
What we are now focusing on is creating a treatment environment that fully considers all five senses. For sight, we keep instruments and chemicals that might cause anxiety out of view. Large windows bring in natural light, creating a bright and open atmosphere. For hearing, we play calm Hawaiian music in the background and minimize unnecessary machine noise. For touch, we regularly replace the cushions on the dental chairs for maximum comfort—some patients even fall asleep. For taste, we are careful with how medicines are handled. For smell, our policy is not to “add pleasant scents” but to “thoroughly eliminate unpleasant odors.” Based on this, we discontinued aromatherapy, as some patients found it unpleasant, and instead installed high-performance air purifiers to remove dust, odors, and fine particles.
We have also obtained ISO9001 certification, the international standard for quality management, undergoing semiannual maintenance audits and renewal audits every three years to ensure consistent service quality. Additionally, we earned WELL certification, which evaluates factors such as air quality, lighting, and water quality to confirm that a building supports the health and well-being of its occupants. We rely on external evaluation standards because we want to deliver comfort to patients that goes beyond our own perception.
In front of patients, we avoid excessive verbal instructions. Staff are trained to communicate with each other through eye contact instead. Words are used only to provide reassurance, never as unnecessary noise. This is the etiquette of our clinic.
For patients with young children, we have a kids’ space. When a child celebrates a birthday, our staff prepare a small gift using information from their medical records. At the end of the year, we send Christmas cards to all patients, and at New Year, we hand out calendars. These initiatives are not directly related to treatment results, but we believe they are essential to making the long treatment journey a more positive experience.
For the Future
The core values of our clinic will not change. Even though Chofu City is outside central Tokyo, some patients travel overnight from across the country, while others schedule visits between overseas assignments. I am deeply grateful for this and, at the same time, feel a sense of responsibility. That is why I commit myself to treating every patient with equal kindness and consistent quality. We do not distinguish between nearby patients and those from far away—our entire team devotes itself to making the long journey of orthodontics as comfortable as possible.
For me, the greatest reward as a doctor comes when orthodontic treatment is complete, and the wires are removed. The moment patients look in the mirror, say “Wow,” and smile never fails to move me. Orthodontic treatment inevitably involves discomfort and inconvenience, but there is nothing more rewarding than overcoming those challenges together and helping patients achieve beautiful alignment and healthy occlusion.
To protect those smiles, I believe the key is to keep doing the basics consistently. Orthodontics requires years of regular visits, and losing a patient’s trust even once—or failing in communication—can cause them to close their hearts, affecting treatment continuity and satisfaction. While patients can technically switch to another clinic, doing so places a heavy burden in orthodontics. That is why, whenever I meet a new patient, I approach them with the mindset that “this will be a ten-year relationship.” Going forward, I will continue investing in our environment while also focusing on staff education to ensure that our clinic’s philosophy is fully embraced.
Rooted in Chofu City, we aim to provide the comfort and sincerity that makes even distant patients feel, “I want to come here.” We will continue to be an orthodontic clinic that patients can rely on for the long term. Not just today, but years and decades into the future, we will remain here, watching over our patients’ smiles. As a partner in their orthodontic journey, we will continue to be attentive and keep evolving.