My History
I have always believed that medicine achieves its greatest potential when basic research and clinical practice work hand in hand. Throughout my career, I’ve continued to pursue both—serving as a practicing clinician while operating a research laboratory within my medical institution. I’m convinced that advancing clinical medicine through rigorous foundational research is the key to shaping the future of healthcare.
In my daily work, one truth remains constant: medicine transcends borders.My medical training and practice have spanned Japan, China, and South Korea. Holding medical licenses in all three countries, I have collaborated with universities and hospitals across borders for more than 45 years, sharing data, expertise, and discoveries. In the field of regenerative medicine, our clinic became the first Japanese medical institution to obtain authorization from the Korean MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety). In China, we have partnered with several leading hospitals, including Beijing 301 Hospital, one of the nation’s top-tier facilities, to exchange medical knowledge and provide technical expertise. Whenever called upon, I’ve traveled anywhere in the world to offer medical support, and I have always been committed to transforming field-based insights and scientific evidence into tangible benefits for patients.
As a physician, I place a strong emphasis on preventive medicine. Despite remarkable advances in modern healthcare, the number of people falling ill continues to increase in aging societies like Japan’s. Treatment alone is not enough. What truly protects health is empowering people with knowledge to prevent disease before it occurs. By cultivating awareness and maintaining healthy habits in daily life, patients not only reduce their risk of illness but also strengthen the foundation for more effective treatment when needed. In other words, prevention is just as important as treatment.
My approach integrates the philosophies of Eastern and Western medicine, applying Fknowledge acquired in Japan, China, and Korea to prevent illness rather than merely treat it. Through patient care, research, and global collaboration with medical professionals,I continue to find deep purpose and joy in advancing medicine that promotes health, guided by the belief that prevention and treatment are equally important.
The Present
One of my lifelong pursuits has been regenerative medicine—an area grounded in the idea of harnessing the body’s innate healing power. At Ginza Oda Clinic, we conduct both basic research and clinical applications involving immune cells and stem cells. Among our most innovative methods is a proprietary therapy known as NKM Immune Cell Therapy.
This treatment centers on Natural Killer (NK) cells, key players in the innate immune system, while incorporating T cells and dendritic cells—which drive acquired immunity—in carefully balanced proportions. These cells are cultured, expanded, and then reinfused into the client’s own body. Unlike conventional immune therapies that focus on a single cell type, NKM therapy combines multiple immune cells to amplify their individual properties and therapeutic potential. By increasing NK cell proliferation, we strengthen the body’s natural immune defense, its first line of protection.
At the same time, incorporating T- including helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells and regulatory T cells（Tregs）- cells enhances acquired immunity, helping the body recognize and remember invaders, thereby preventing recurrence. T cells also stimulate the activation and growth of other immune cells, making this mixed-cell approach uniquely effective at boosting both innate and adaptive immune responses. Immune cell therapy is increasingly used not only for treating diseases but also for preventive health management and anti-aging.
At our clinic, we offer specialized variations—NKMplus, NKMmemory, iNKT, and Dendritic Cell Therapy—and tailor or combine them according to each patient’s condition. We also developed our own cell culture medium, optimized for NK cell growth, and became one of the first in Japan to apply it clinically.This innovation has been instrumental in advancing cancer prevention through immunotherapy.
In addition, we treat autoimmune diseases, joint disorders, and dementia using patients’ own stem cells.
Recently, we have begun developing exosome-based eye drops, nasal sprays, and inhalants derived from stem cells. These are being clinically applied to treat severe diseases such as muscular disorders (ALS, muscular dystrophy), eye diseases (retinitis pigmentosa, retinal detachment), neurological diseases (Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease), and respiratory diseases (pulmonary fibrosis).
From a preventive standpoint, we also conduct genetic cancer screening, leveraging the knowledge gained through immune therapy to further advance regenerative medicine every day.
For the Future
I believe Japan must play a larger and more proactive role in regenerative medicine on the global stage. While research and investment in this field are accelerating overseas, Japan still faces a shortage of funding and limited institutional support. As a result, many medical institutions remain hesitant to pursue research and development due to financial constraints.
Even so, physicians with deep experience in basic research continue to be in demand worldwide. I was personally invited to collaborate with South Korean institutions, where doctors who have earned trust through research are given both respect and generous investment opportunities.
Our clinic now welcomes patients not only from Japan but also from overseas. We provide multilingual care in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and English. While many institutions are expanding into regenerative medicine, I take great care to personally thank each patient who visits our clinic: “Thank you so much for coming to see us.” Trust begins with empathy—listening, understanding, and communicating from the patient’s perspective. Only when mutual trust is established can meaningful, effective treatment take place.
I believe the foundation of a fulfilling life lies in both mental and physical health.
Nurturing health is the driving force behind everything we do—it is the essence of life itself. My sincere hope is to raise awareness that prevention is a form of treatment, and treatment can serve as prevention, so that more people will take responsibility for their health and live vibrant, balanced lives. Researchers working on groundbreaking medical challenges, and nurses who devote their days to patient care, must continue their efforts to protect as many lives as possible.
There’s one lesson I always share with my children: “Value others just as you value yourself.” None of us exist in isolation. As for me, I intend to honor the responsibility society has entrusted to me as a physician—by treating every patient with compassion and respect, and dedicating my life to serving others through medicine.