Executive Preventive Health Checkup Letter
ISSUE 14｜Discovering Wellness Literacy and Social Capital in Practice
MESSAGE FROM SIIFIC
At SIIFIC, we believe wellness is not only about medical care, but also about creating an environment where people feel supported in caring for themselves and each other. Here, we are grateful to share a reflection from Lily Thomas, one of our very first summer interns, who was offered the opportunity to experience a preventive executive health checkup in Japan. For her, the experience became more than just a medical examination - it was a chance to deepen her wellness literacy, while also feeling the strength of social capital through the care and support of colleagues. Her reflections remind us that small acts of workplace consideration can nurture both individual growth and shared wellbeing, bringing us closer to a society where everyone can live better.
A LETTER FROM LILY THOMAS
Dear Readers,
As one of SIIFIC’s very first summer interns, I was generously offered a preventive executive health checkup as part of my internship package. The examination was remarkably comprehensive - covering vision, hearing, full body measurements, chest X-ray, glucose metabolism, chest and abdominal CT scans, electrolyte levels, and much more.
My immediate reaction was excitement and gratitude, as I had never imagined receiving such a thorough health examination at the age of twenty-one. When Reiri and Kazu kindly offered, I felt a rush of warmth, realizing this was the type of supportive and caring work culture I was entering. I had never encountered interns receiving such a valuable benefit in either the United States or the United Kingdom. Culturally, it was a wonderful way to integrate me into the shared Japanese ritual experience, especially as Kazu also discussed his own checkup.
💡Health Checkup Context in Japan 🇯🇵
In Japan regular health checkups are not only common but legally required. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers must arrange and pay for annual medical checkups for all regular employees"12Additional examinations are also required in certain cases, such as when hiring, changing to hazardous duties, or returning from medical leave.3. The specific tests vary by age, particularly to assess "lifestyle disease" risks for those between 40 and 744. These comprehensive examinations, with their detailed sampling and lifestyle questions, reflect Japan's "well-oiled machine" and detail-oriented culture5.
In contrast, the US places less emphasis on preventative healthcare; instead, “health care is sick and profit is the disease”6. Health check-ups are not so much a workplace cultural ritual as they are another component of the profit-driven $4.5 trillion healthcare industry7, monopolizing on distorting employee insurance packages, overutilization of procedures using Medicare or Medicaid funds, and systemic causes of ill health. The system is so complex that the different stakeholders, such as insurance companies, physicians, and the government, face adverse selection and moral hazards in providing care, depending on state laws.
The thoughtful office assistant at SIIFIC, Itsuko, arranged everything to accommodate my language needs and comfort. She explained her reasoning for selecting the Tokyo Midtown Clinic:
💬 “The point of choosing a medical examination hospital was that I searched for clinics that could provide services in English. The reason I chose Tokyo Midtown is that they provide English versions of the examination results. The examination fees are the same for everyone, just like for Japanese people, with no discrimination in pricing. Additionally, there were no extra charges just because they provide English support. The examination fee is around $545. The results can be viewed online at any time. The only clinic that operates entirely via PC is the Tokyo Midtown Clinic. It was also good that it was located near SIIFIC. That’s all, thank you very much.”
About Tokyo Midtown Clinic
To help readers better understand the setting of Lily’s experience, we would like to share a short introduction to Tokyo Midtown Clinic, where her health checkup took place.
Located in Roppongi, Tokyo Midtown Clinic is well known for its comprehensive preventive health checkups and English-language support. The clinic caters to both Japanese and international patients, providing a comfortable setting where results can also be accessed online.
Health Checkup Programs
The clinic offers structured checkups covering vision, hearing, blood tests, imaging, and more — reflecting Japan’s strong emphasis on early detection and prevention.
Optional Examinations
Patients can add extra screenings, such as MRI, mammography, cardiovascular testing, or genetic analysis, to tailor the experience to individual needs.
I entered the health checkup process feeling optimistic and independent, even empowered, to take ownership of my health. I appreciated the emphasis on preventative healthcare, which often feels overlooked in the US and UK, where treatment is more reactive, backlogged, and profit-driven.
Yet, as the day approached, a cloud of anxiety set in. I felt nervous about entering an unfamiliar setting where my body would be measured and scrutinized by strangers. Having never experienced such a comprehensive assessment, I was both curious and intimidated. I was granted time off work to attend, which made me reflect on the privilege to be in a work environment that allows this flexibility. I came to understand how easily this responsibility to one’s own health can be overlooked in the absence of a mandate, as I was even experiencing second thoughts as I realized the scale and possible implications of this assessment.
The experience also reminded me of my last health-related test before my freshman year of college, when I had to be screened for sickle cell anemia. It is extremely rare in the UK, but mandatory for all international students; the test ended with me fainting in the hallway after a blood draw. These feelings cast a shadow over the privilege I was about to experience, making me more appreciative of my more positive health encounters in the past, while also recognizing how those who have endured COVID-19 shortages, serious illness, or even war-related hardships might experience a sense of trauma, “white coat syndrome,” or PTSD in similar medical settings.
🌱🏙️ Wellness in the Concrete Jungle
Commuting into the intricate heart of Roppongi, I was struck by the scale of the futuristic skyscrapers and the synchronized flow of professionals. The entire Midtown complex seemed designed for the convenience and wellness of businesspeople - an ecosystem of offices, clinics, shops, and restaurants, all within steps of one another.
At the clinic, I was warmly greeted in English and given a set of clothes and a badge marked “4.” The color codes distinguished executives (blue) from non-executives (brown). Slipping into my uniform, I felt as though I were entering a wellness spa.
The waiting area overlooked the concrete jungle below - rows of glass towers, bustling activity, and wealth. Seated alongside executives decades older than me, we silently decompressed while gazing out at the Tokyo skyline, all equalized in that moment, wearing the same uniform and absorbing the same view. Every few minutes, I was called for another procedure, moving briskly through a circuit of tests ranging from simple body measurements to a CT scan.
At the end, I was handed a meal voucher, which I used to enjoy a delicious tonkatsu pork lunch in the nearby mall before heading back to work.
🤔 Reflections
It took around one month to receive my results, which felt like a long wait compared to my other experiences in the US. The anticipation ticked quietly in the back of my mind as I worked at SIIFIC. For example, meeting innovative entrepreneurs and learning about striking startups devoted to curing the very illnesses these tests can detect, such as interviewing Dr. Endou or meeting the talent behind C-HAS+.
I had never experienced a health checkup with this attention to detail and expertise. The report was delivered electronically, with grades for each health indicator (A to D). I noticed a tendency toward over-caution, as even minor irregularities were flagged. While this reassured me that issues would not be overlooked, it also felt somewhat impersonal and slightly alarming. I found myself turning to Google to make sense of the findings, while staying mindful about the reliability of sources before jumping to conclusions.
After studying how profitability drives much of the U.S. medical-industrial complex, I became more attuned to questioning the incentives behind certain recommendations. Therefore, when I received a second follow-up English email this week with a question about my future plans, I was a little cautious, but I appreciated this level of care and attention.
I left the experience grateful. The checkup revealed insights about my health that I might never have discovered until much later in life. It has motivated me to adapt to healthier lifestyle habits now rather than reacting to problems later in my life. At the same time, I could not help but reflect on the privilege of such an experience. The access to comprehensive preventative care, flexibility to take time off, and the support of both employer and family are luxuries not available to many working people, especially single mothers.
My first executive health checkup was both a personal milestone and a window into cultural differences in healthcare. It left me with gratitude, perspective, and a renewed sense of responsibility for my own well-being.
Thank you for reading.
Warmly,
Lily
"Japanese Annual Health Check," Japan Dev, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://japan-dev.com/blog/japanese-annual-health-check#what-are-health-checkups-like-in-japan. [Accessed Sept. 5, 2025].
"Comparison of Medical Checkups in Japan and USA," Central Medical Club, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://centralmedicalclub.com/column/usa-ja-medical-checkup. [Accessed Sept. 5, 2025].
Ibid.
Ibid.
Japan Dev, "Japanese Annual Health Check," 2023. [Online]. [Accessed Sept. 5, 2025].
Hightower Jim, “Health Care Is Sick — And Profit Is the Disease” Inequality.org, February 23, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://inequality.org/article/health-care-profit/
PwC Health Research Institute, "Next in health services 2025: Secure your future with resilience and reinvention," PwC, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/healthcare-trends.html. [Accessed Sept. 5, 2025].