English-Speaking Orthopedic Surgeon · Tokyo

Joint &
Knee Surgery
in English

Hip & Knee Replacement · Knee Ligament Surgery · Tokyo

A board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Tokyo offering joint replacement and knee surgery with full English-language consultation — for foreign residents in Japan and international patients traveling for care.

Free first consultation — in English No Japanese needed. In person or by video. Bring your scans.
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
English
Full consultation, no interpreter
Board-Certified
Orthopedic Surgery, Tokyo
Tokyo
High-volume surgical center
Free
First consultation · no obligation

Who I Help

Care for anyone who needs
English-language orthopedics

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 referral needed to contact me
  • In-person or video consultation
International patients

Traveling to Tokyo
for surgery?

Tokyo's surgical centers offer high-volume, evidence-based joint replacement and knee surgery. For patients coming from overseas for care, I coordinate everything in English — from remote pre-operative assessment through to your discharge and remote follow-up back home.

  • Pre-operative video consultation
  • Written cost estimate before travel
  • Surgery at accredited Tokyo facility
  • English discharge summary & 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. Implant type and alignment technique are chosen to match your individual anatomy and lifestyle.

TKA — Total Knee UKA — Partial Knee PFA — Patellofemoral

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

Read: TKA vs UKA — which is right for you? →
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

Typical hospital stay: Within 2 weeks from surgery

Read: ACL reconstruction — what to expect →
Knee Surgery

Meniscus & Complex Knee

Arthroscopic meniscus repair and resection. Posterolateral corner reconstruction for complex instability. Treatment approach tailored to function, imaging, and activity demands.

Meniscus Repair / Resection PLC Reconstruction

Typical hospital stay: Within 2 weeks from surgery

Read: Meniscus tear — repair or resection? →

About

Meet John Ishiguro

Photo
coming
soon

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

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
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

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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.

Location Tokyo, Japan (details 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
Have X-rays or MRI? Email them directly to john@johnishiguro.com — please mention your name in the subject line.
The first consultation is free. I'll review your details personally and reply in English within 48 hours to discuss next steps.

Found via these communities

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