Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon · Tokyo

Your Japanese
Health Insurance
Works Here

Hip & Knee Replacement · ACL & Knee Surgery · Tokyo

Full English-language consultation — no interpreter needed, no referral required. Same NHI (国民健康保険) or employer insurance (社会保険) coverage as any patient in Japan, for foreign residents and expats living here.

Free first consultation No Japanese needed — full English consultation. In person or by video. Bring your scans.
Book Free Consultation Who I Help

Physician License No. (医籍登録番号) 564166 · Specialist Board Certification No. (専門医認定番号) 16-201886

In the operating room · Tokyo
Back to an active life after surgery
Return to the activities you love
World-class surgical care · Tokyo, Japan
Surgery at
Accredited hospitals
in Tokyo & greater
Kanto region
NHI
Same insurance coverage as any patient
100+
Joint replacements per year
Tokyo
High-volume surgical center
Free
First consultation · no obligation

Who I Help

Care for foreign residents
and expats in Tokyo

Foreign residents in Japan

Living in Japan,
struggling to find care?

If you have a hip or knee problem and keep running into the language barrier — unclear diagnoses, instructions you can't follow, decisions you can't fully understand — I can help. Everything from first consultation to post-op follow-up, in English.

  • Expats and long-term residents
  • NHI and employer insurance accepted — no extra fee for English
  • No referral needed to contact me
  • In-person or video consultation
Traveling to Tokyo for surgery?
Tokyo's surgical centers offer high-volume, evidence-based joint replacement and knee surgery. For patients coordinating care from overseas, see the dedicated page for international patients — pre-operative video consultation, written cost estimate, and remote follow-up.

Process

How it works

01

Get in touch

Send a message via the form with your symptoms and any imaging you have. I reply personally in English within 48 hours.

Free
02

First consultation

We meet in person or by video. Bring your X-rays or MRI. I review everything and explain your options clearly in English — no obligation to proceed.

Free · 30 min · in person or video
03

Surgery

If you decide to go ahead, I arrange surgery at an accredited Tokyo hospital. Your insurance coverage (NHI, private, or self-pay) is discussed and documented in English upfront.

Surgery fee applies
04

Recovery

All post-op instructions, discharge notes, and follow-up appointments are in English. For international patients, remote follow-up is available from anywhere in the world.

Included

Procedures

Surgical expertise

Joint Replacement

Hip Replacement

Minimally invasive total hip replacement for arthritis, avascular necrosis, and hip pain. Approach and implant selection tailored to your anatomy and activity goals.

THA — Total Hip Arthroplasty

Typical hospital stay: Within 2 weeks from surgery

Read: What is THA? →
Joint Replacement

Knee Replacement

Full and partial knee replacement for osteoarthritis and cartilage loss. Our signature technique is kinematic alignment TKA (KA-TKA) — restoring your own anatomy rather than a population average. High tibial osteotomy (HTO) for younger, active patients who want to preserve their natural joint.

TKA — Kinematic Alignment UKA — Partial Knee PFA — Patellofemoral HTO — Joint Preservation

TKA stay: 2–4 weeks  ·  UKA / PFA / HTO: Within 2 weeks

Read: TKA vs UKA — which is right for you? → Read: Kinematic alignment (KA-TKA) → Read: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) → Read: Pain control after knee replacement → Read: PRP injections — what the evidence shows →
Knee Ligament Surgery

ACL & Cruciate Ligament

Arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. Graft selection and fixation method are optimized for stability and return to activity.

ACL Reconstruction PCL Reconstruction MCL Repair / Reconstruction

Typical hospital stay: Within 2 weeks from surgery

Read: ACL reconstruction — what to expect → Read: MCL injury — when to treat without surgery →
Knee Surgery

Meniscus, Cartilage & Complex Knee

Arthroscopic meniscus repair and resection. Cartilage restoration including OATS, ACI (using atelocollagen scaffold), and microfracture. Posterolateral corner and MPFL reconstruction for complex instability.

Meniscus Repair / Resection PLC Reconstruction MPFL Reconstruction OATS · ACI · Microfracture

Typical hospital stay: Within 2 weeks from surgery

Read: Meniscus tear — repair or resection? → Read: Posterolateral corner (PLC) → Read: MPFL reconstruction → Read: OATS — cartilage plug transfer → Read: ACI — growing new cartilage → Read: Microfracture — and its limits →

About

Meet John Ishiguro

John Ishiguro, MD — Orthopaedic Surgeon

A board-certified orthopedic surgeon at an accredited high-volume surgical center in Tokyo, with subspecialty training in joint replacement and knee surgery.

I started offering English-language care after regularly seeing foreign patients come in after months of delay — sometimes with conditions that had progressed because they couldn't navigate the system. You shouldn't have to manage a serious health problem in a language you don't speak. I can help with that.

Certification Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon — subspecialty-trained in joint replacement and knee surgery
Focus Joint replacement (THA, TKA, UKA, PFA) · Knee ligament & meniscus surgery
Setting Accredited surgical center, Tokyo
Language English · Japanese · interpreter available for other languages
License Physician License No. (医籍登録番号) 564166 · Specialist Board Certification No. (専門医認定番号) 16-201886

Why choose an
English-speaking
surgeon?

Fees

Straightforward fees

Most procedures are covered under Japan's National Health Insurance (NHI). If you have NHI or employer insurance (社会保険), you pay the standard 30% co-pay — the same as any Japanese patient, with no additional charge for English consultation. For uninsured or self-pay patients, I provide a clear written estimate before any decision is made.

With NHI / 社会保険
Standard Coverage
30%
co-pay · same as any patient in Japan
  • Consultation covered
  • Surgery covered
  • Hospital stay covered
  • Rehab & follow-up covered
  • No extra fee for English
Self-pay / no Japanese insurance
Written Estimate First
On request
detailed quote after first consultation
  • Full cost breakdown before commitment
  • Surgery, implant, anesthesia, stay
  • English documentation for insurance claims
  • No surprise billing
First consultation
Always Free
¥0
30 min · no obligation · in English
  • Review your imaging
  • Explain your options clearly
  • Answer all your questions
  • In person or by video

Surgery fees are set by the affiliated hospital and vary by procedure, implant selection, and length of stay. A detailed written estimate is provided after your free consultation — before any commitment.

FAQ

Common questions

Can I use my Japanese National Health Insurance?

Yes. If you have NHI (国民健康保険) or employer insurance (社会保険), you pay the standard 30% co-pay — the same as any patient in Japan. There's no additional charge for consulting in English.

Do I need a referral from a Japanese doctor first?

Not to contact me. We can have a conversation first, and I'll help sort out any referral paperwork if your insurance or the hospital requires one. Just get in touch directly.

What should I bring to the first consultation?

Any imaging you have (X-rays or MRI — CD, USB, or digital file is fine), a note on your symptoms and history, and your insurance card. English medical records from abroad are absolutely fine.

How long is the hospital stay after surgery?

For total knee replacement (TKA): typically 2–4 weeks. For hip replacement (THA) and partial knee (UKA/PFA): within 2 weeks. For ACL, PCL, meniscus, and PLC surgery: within 2 weeks. The exact timeline depends on your recovery.

I'm traveling from abroad — can you still help?

Yes. For patients traveling to Tokyo for surgery, I offer pre-operative video consultation, a written cost estimate, surgery at an accredited facility, and structured remote follow-up after you return home — all in English.

Will the hospital staff speak English too?

The hospital's general staff may have limited English. I coordinate key communications on your behalf — discharge instructions, nursing handover, rehabilitation guidance — so you're not left to manage it alone.

Patient Education

Articles on your procedure

Hip Replacement

What is Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)?

When is hip replacement the right choice, what does the OCM muscle-sparing approach involve, and what does recovery look like? A plain-English guide for patients.

Read article →
Knee Replacement

TKA, UKA & PFA: Which knee replacement is right for you?

Total, partial, and patellofemoral knee replacement — the key differences, kinematic alignment in TKA, the midvastus approach, and who qualifies for each.

Read article →
Knee Replacement

Patellofemoral Arthroplasty (PFA): For isolated kneecap arthritis

PFA replaces only the kneecap joint — a less invasive option for patients with isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis and intact tibial compartments.

Read article →
Knee Ligament Surgery

ACL reconstruction — what to expect

Graft choices, surgery day, rehabilitation milestones, and return to sport: a practical guide to ACL and PCL reconstruction.

Read article →
Knee Surgery

Meniscus tear: repair or resection?

Not all meniscus tears are the same. Here's how surgeons decide between repair and partial removal — and why it matters for your long-term knee health.

Read article →
Complex Knee

Posterolateral corner (PLC): the often-missed knee injury

PLC injuries are frequently overlooked. This article explains what the posterolateral corner is, how it's diagnosed, and why reconstruction is preferred over repair.

Read article →
Patellar Instability

MPFL reconstruction: stopping the kneecap from dislocating again

Using FiberTape and knotless anchors to restore the medial patellofemoral ligament — full weight-bearing from day one, jogging at 2 months.

Read article →
Ligament Injury

MCL injury: when to treat without surgery and when to operate

Most MCL tears heal without surgery. Learn which situations — Stener lesions, bony avulsions, combined ACL injuries — require an operation.

Read article →
Joint Preservation

High tibial osteotomy (HTO): preserving your knee before it's too late

For active patients under 60 with medial knee arthritis, HTO realigns the tibia to unload the worn compartment — 62% survivorship at 20 years.

Read article →
Knee Replacement

Kinematic alignment (KA-TKA): a more personal knee replacement

Instead of targeting a fixed neutral axis, kinematic alignment restores the unique geometry of your own knee — how it works and what the evidence shows.

Read article →
Cartilage Repair

ACI: growing new cartilage from your own cells

Autologous chondrocyte implantation using an atelocollagen scaffold — Japan's approved two-stage technique for large cartilage defects.

Read article →
Cartilage Repair

OATS: plugging the gap in your knee cartilage

A single-stage procedure transplanting a bone-and-cartilage plug from a low-demand area — the fastest return to sport of any cartilage procedure.

Read article →
Cartilage Repair

Microfracture: the simplest cartilage fix — and its limits

When microfracture is the right choice and when it isn't — and why the wrong decision now can make future options more difficult.

Read article →
Non-Surgical

PRP injections: what the evidence actually shows

PRP produces clinically meaningful pain relief in mild-to-moderate knee OA — but platelet concentration matters and PRP cannot reverse structural damage.

Read article →
Pain Management

Why you wake up with less pain after knee replacement

The ACB + iPACK nerve block combination — how two motor-sparing injections let most patients walk the same day with minimal opioid use.

Read article →

Health Column

Understanding orthopedic conditions

Health Column

Hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)

FAI is one of the most common causes of hip pain in active adults under 50 — and one of the most commonly misdiagnosed as a "groin strain." What cam and pincer impingement are, and what the trial evidence shows.

Read article →
Health Column

LCL injury of the knee: diagnosis and treatment

The lateral collateral ligament is injured far less often than the ACL or MCL — which is exactly why it's frequently missed. Most sprains heal on their own; a smaller number need a different conversation.

Read article →
Health Column

Revision hip and knee replacement: when a prior implant fails

Most joint replacements last decades, but no implant lasts forever. Why implants loosen, wear, or become infected, and what revision surgery generally involves.

Read article →
Health Column

Non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis

Most people with knee osteoarthritis never need a replacement. What the evidence actually supports — and doesn't — before surgery is on the table.

Read article →
Health Column

Blood clot (DVT) prevention after joint replacement

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are the complications patients worry about most after hip and knee replacement. Why the risk exists and what the trial evidence shows.

Read article →
Health Column

Avascular necrosis of the hip

AVN can start as vague groin pain in someone in their 30s or 40s and, left untreated, end in collapse of the joint. What causes the blood supply to fail, and what the evidence shows about treatment.

Read article →
Health Column

Patellar and quadriceps tendon rupture

A sudden inability to straighten the knee after a stumble or awkward landing is often a torn extensor mechanism — and it's frequently missed on the first exam.

Read article →
Health Column

Return to sport after ACL reconstruction

"When can I play again?" A date on the calendar isn't a safe answer on its own. What strength testing, hop symmetry, and psychological readiness show about a truly ready knee.

Read article →
Health Column

Knee arthroscopy: what it is and when it helps

One of the most common orthopedic procedures — and one of the most over-applied. Where the evidence is strong, and where a degenerative meniscal tear may be better served by a structured non-surgical trial first.

Read article →
Health Column

Anesthesia choices for hip and knee replacement

Spinal versus general anesthesia is a real decision with its own trade-offs. What the evidence shows about complications, recovery, and who isn't a candidate for a spinal.

Read article →

Get in Touch

Book your free
consultation

Send me a message with your situation. I reply personally in English within 48 hours. You can come in person or we can meet by video — whichever works for you.

Traveling from abroad?

Pre-operative imaging and planning can be coordinated remotely. Surgery is scheduled around your travel dates. Postoperative follow-up is managed in collaboration with your home physician.

Location Setagaya & Adachi, Tokyo (exact address shared on confirmation)
Language English · Japanese · interpreter available
Response Within 48 hours, personally
First consult Free · 30 min · in person or video · no referral needed
Find us View on Google →
The first consultation is free. I'll review your details personally and reply in English within 48 hours to discuss next steps. Have X-rays or MRI? Mention it here and I'll explain how to share them securely.

Found via these communities

r/japanlife · GaijinPot Forums · Expats Guide Japan · Tokyo Expat Network · Foreigners in Tokyo (Facebook)