I graduated from the local Shimane Medical University School of Medicine in 1989. My father was an English teacher at a prefectural high school in Shimane Prefecture, so I was born in Kawamoto-cho, Ochi-gun, and grew up in Taisha-cho from kindergarten.

I started playing soccer in the second grade of elementary school and played it seriously until high school (morning practice from 7am, ground maintenance in the afternoon, and practice until sunset), so I often had to visit the orthopedics department due to injuries, and I think that’s why I chose to work in orthopedics. 　　  

After graduating, I entered graduate school and studied in the anatomy department. My first hospital was the National Health Insurance Daio Town Hospital Internal Medicine Department in Daio-cho, Shima-gun, Mie Prefecture, where I worked for two years. It was a small hospital with two internal medicine doctors and two surgeons, including myself. When I was worried, I often looked at the view of Ago Bay. I was very grateful for the help of the Kyoto University internal medicine doctors who came on duty on weekends. We went canoeing together in Ago Bay and Miyagawa River in Ise City, and even took a nap on a pearl raft in Ago Bay. After that, I started working in orthopedics.

I mainly worked at New England Baptist Hospital, Harvard medical school, USA from 2000 to 2002, at Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital from 2007, and at Ogikubo Hospital from 2018, mainly treating knees.

I have performed 6,500 surgeries so far. The most common diseases are 1,500 limb fracture surgeries. 3,000 total knee arthroplasties (2,300 TKA, 700 UKA), 600 knee osteotomies, 200 total hip arthroplasties, 600 knee ligament reconstructions, 150 spinal surgeries, and 450 other surgeries. I have deviated from the so-called specialization that is a problem and shortcoming of the current Japanese medical system, and have performed a huge number of surgeries in many areas.

I am now about 60 years old. I thought about continuing this way of working in the future, but there are limitations in terms of time and number of surgeries I can perform. Rather than that, I thought about how I could contribute to many people through accurate medical care and preventive medicine by utilizing the knowledge and experience I have cultivated so far. Fortunately, I found a convenient location close to the hospital where I work now, about 100 meters from Nishi-Ogikubo Station, a one-minute walk, and I decided to open in October. Regarding orthopedic treatment, as I described above, I have not had an attitude of only examining a particular part for 36 years, so I can examine any part. I believe that I have specialized knowledge in any part and can perform accurate diagnosis and treatment. I also treat internal medicine-related anti-aging medicine, lifestyle-related diseases, Chinese medicine treatment, and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. If I decide that surgery would be better for the patient, I will explain that to them. When I ask for surgery, I would like to introduce it to a doctor I can trust. Also, if I have the time, I would like to go to a hospital that can provide an operating room and perform surgery.

Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world. However, it is also known that the healthy life expectancy is short. It is too late to take measures after you become old. I think it is necessary to know your condition and take measures from your late 30s at the latest. This is probably the trend that the world will move in. Orthopedics plays a large role in healthy life expectancy. The most important thing for healthy life expectancy is to be able to walk at any age, maintain strong bones, and reduce fractures. I would like to contribute by using my many knowledge and giving advice, including lifestyle guidance.

I felt this strongly when I worked at a hospital in the United States, but overseas, especially in Europe and the United States, unlike Japan, everyone works equally with pride in their work, regardless of their position, age, or position. I would like to create such a work environment if possible, so I have made it my medical philosophy.

Thank you very much.

 Director of Nishiogikubo Orthopedic Clinic
Ichiro Moriyama