Riya Fukui, MD

Why I built this

A few years ago, my father, who lives in Japan, began having neurological symptoms and needed to see a specialist.

The hard part was not finding a neurologist in Tokyo. There are many. The hard part was finding the right one. We spent time clicking through websites, trying to figure out which clinics might be a fit, and calling offices to ask whether anyone spoke English. Even when we could identify English-speaking doctors, that only solved part of the problem.

The bigger challenge was communication. Explaining neurological symptoms is difficult even when both parties speak the same language. Understanding what the doctor is saying, what the assessment means, and what happens next is another layer entirely. I was not in Japan at the time, so I was trying to help from a distance. My father would call me afterward to ask what the doctor likely meant, or to help make sense of what had been explained. He still routinely asks me to help interpret what his doctors are saying.

We got there eventually, but it took longer than it should have and required more luck than it should have. I kept thinking about how many people are trying to do the same thing without a physician in the family to help them sort through it.

I'm a physician and bilingual. In practice, that means I can present a patient's history to a Japanese specialist in clinical terms — structured the way a doctor communicates to another doctor — and explain the assessment back in a way that gives someone real clarity about what it means and what to do next. That is a different thing from translation, and it is what most people in this situation actually need.

OpenClinic began as the thing I wished had existed when my father needed it: a verified directory designed to help foreign patients find care in Japan with more clarity and less guesswork. I verify listings against public sources and, where possible, direct confirmation, so patients are not relying on stale or ambiguous information.

The goal is simple: make it easier for foreign patients not just to find care, but to navigate it.

What I'm working on

Right now, the focus is getting the directory right — accurate, current, and actually useful.

Beyond that, I'm building navigation services for patients who need more than a map, and tools for organizations — insurers, clinics, and employers — responsible for supporting people as they navigate healthcare in Japan.

OpenClinic helps patients access clearer information and navigate care. It is not a medical practice and does not replace care from a licensed clinician.

If you're a foreign patient who has struggled to find care in Japan, I'd love to hear what was hard. If you work with foreign patients — as a clinic, insurer, or HR team — I'd like to understand what's missing. And if the directory is wrong about something, please tell me.