Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Senior Manager Ms. Eri Yoshimura contributed to an article in the Nikkei Morning Edition titled “Making Use of Health Checkups for Kidney Disease”. Ms. Yoshimura’s contribution was published in the Personal Opinion and Insight column on June 20, 2025.

It is estimated that approximately 20 million people in Japan (one in five adults) have chronic kidney disease (CKD), thereby making it a new national disease. In its early stages, CKD often presents itself with few noticeable symptoms, making early detection, intervention, and ongoing follow-up to prevent progression to severe stages critical. Additionally, CKD is multifaceted in its etiology and its underlying causes diverse, including not only diabetes and hypertension but also autoimmune diseases and rare diseases designated as intractable conditions. Japan is said to be the only country in the world where kidney function tests are conducted across all age groups, from childhood to the elderly. On the other hand, according to an analysis of health check-up results by a health insurance association, it has been reported that 95% of people suspected of having impaired kidney function during health check-ups failed to seek treatment. Therefore, it is essential to raise public awareness of kidney diseases and strengthen measures against them through the use and development of health check-up and screening systems.

The article may be found using the link. (Access to the full article requires a Nikkei user account.)
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