Yukie Watanabe Visits: Kanazawa City "Urata Clinic/Squall Kanazawa"

This is a project where a frontline communication planner at Dentsu Inc. reports on "currently intriguing locations or spots" that have caught their attention.

A Total Support Complex Takes on the Challenge

The Cutting Edge of Preventive Healthcare

Planner Yukie Watanabe visited Japan's first medical fitness & spa, "Urata Clinic/SQOL Kanazawa," which opened in Kanazawa City in April 2017. While rooted in Urata Clinic, it provides comprehensive health support emphasizing "prevention," ranging from comprehensive health checkups to cutting-edge aquatic relaxation. While easily accessible to local residents, its state-of-the-art facilities, luxurious interior, and hospitality attract many celebrities who visit discreetly from afar. The name "SQOL" stands for Spa for Quality Of Life.

Tetsuro Urata, Chairman of "Urata Clinic/SQOL Kanazawa," graduated from Kanazawa Medical University in 1987. In 1993, driven by a desire to provide medical care to underserved areas, he established "Kawachi Urata Clinic." He inherited his father's "Urata Hospital" in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture, and in 2000, changed the corporate name to "Medical Corporation Hospi." In 2007, with the construction of the new clinic, "SQOL" was added as a facility, leading to the opening of "Urata Clinic/SQOL Kanazawa" in April 2017.

This time, Mr. Watanabe focused on the following three points:

❶ What led to the pursuit of this new form of healthcare, "preventive medicine"?
❷ What is the value of "preventive medicine" in Japan's super-aging society?
❸ What are the hints for achieving the desired "community-based healthcare"?

We asked Chairman Tetsuro Urata!

 

【Q1】

Please tell us about the innovative aspects of "Urata Clinic/Squall Kanazawa," which has attracted attention nationwide.

Urata Clinic/Squall Kanazawa is a complex facility integrating "medicine" with "nutrition," "exercise," and "healing." Centered around the clinic and comprehensive health checkup center, it also houses a Doctor's Creation Cafe, supplement shop, medical fitness center, pool, natural hot spring, and aromatherapy treatment facility. By fostering cross-functional collaboration, we implement a "Health PDCA Cycle" to provide optimal support tailored to each individual. It serves not only those with illness but also those in the "subclinical" stage, helping them maintain health and live happily.

While the field of "preventive medicine" is gaining global attention, Japan is still in its developmental stages. A major factor is that under the current health insurance system, hospitals cannot sustain their operations unless they primarily focus on symptomatic treatment (therapy aimed at alleviating main symptoms) involving prescribing medication. However, recognizing the necessity of realizing integrated medicine with an eye toward the near future, I began putting this into practice in Uozu City.

Amidst this, JR West Real Estate Development approached me, wanting to revitalize the area around Kanazawa Station following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. This led to the decision to establish this facility. Incidentally, it wasn't because I had money; it was because I wasn't afraid of debt and had the courage to go for it (laughs).

While I was overwhelmed by his strong conviction and passion to question Japan's healthcare system and realize his ideal of medicine, what moved me most was his relentless curiosity and commitment to continuous evolution! It was a moment that gave me hope for the future of health. (Watanabe)

【Q2】

Chairman Urata is now a pioneer of community-rooted "preventive medicine." What was his journey leading up to this?

My roots lie in "medical care for villages without doctors." Watching my father, a practicing physician providing 24/7, year-round community-based care in a small town in Toyama Prefecture's Uozu City, I too began providing medical care in a village without doctors in Kawachi Village, Ishikawa Prefecture (now Kawachi, Hakusan City), a village with a population of about 1,000. Treating everyone from newborns to the elderly, handling everything from childbirth to internal medicine and surgery, I came to see myself as a "general practitioner who does whatever it takes" to help all local residents live healthy and happy lives. This is also why I incorporate Eastern medicine like Kampo, acupuncture, and yoga, as well as European medicine like naturopathy.

Later, I took over my father's hospital. Working in a medical setting with many elderly patients who were bedridden or had dementia, I also recognized the importance of "preventive medicine" in modern society.

Preventive medicine itself is actually divided into "primary prevention," "secondary prevention," and "tertiary prevention." "Primary prevention" involves measures to keep people who are not yet sick from developing the causes of disease. "Secondary prevention" involves measures to slow the progression of disease in those who have become ill. "Tertiary prevention" involves measures to prevent sequelae and recurrence after the disease has progressed. I witnessed terminal cancer patients returning home, eating what they loved, freely enjoying their favorite activities, and living significantly longer than their prognosis suggested—this revealed the profound depth of preventive medicine. This connects to the themes of "Nutrition," "Exercise," and "Healing" at "Urata Clinic/Squall Kanazawa."

The scope of preventive medicine is expanding through collaboration with the Tokyo personal training gym " Deportare Club." Health management and training take place in Tokyo, with health checks at SCOOL. This health PDCA cycle connecting Kanazawa and Tokyo is likely to grow. (Watanabe)

【Q3】

The initiatives at "Urata Clinic/Squall Kanazawa" feel like promoting community development through healthcare. What are your future prospects?

Twelve years ago, we opened the prototype of this facility, "Urata Clinic/Squall," in Uozu City. This time, we were able to create a facility closer to our ideal in Kanazawa, a city with a population of nearly 500,000. We are enthusiastic about creating a future where similar facilities emerge one after another in cities nationwide with populations around 500,000. As a step toward our dream of nationwide expansion, we have also begun a partnership with Deputarre Club in Tokyo.

Regarding "preventive medicine," we aim to contribute to realizing a society where more people live healthier, happier lives. This involves researching "primary prevention" (measures based on genetic testing), already studied in the US, and even earlier stages—such as measures concerning parental health before conceiving children.

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Squall Plus

The facility houses the select shop "Squall Plus." It stocks and sells carefully selected foods, drinks, and supplements from across Japan that support health. A registered dietitian is always on-site, allowing customers to consult and purchase nutritional products tailored to their physical condition and health status.

Finally... (by Watanabe)

My experience at SCOOL made me feel that health management and maintenance are shifting from being solely "individual" efforts to being undertaken "shared with a partner." Having someone who understands and supports your body more than you do yourself provides not only medical support but also emotional sustenance. Dr. Urata's thoughts and words during the interview conveyed a strong conviction and hospitality, making me keenly aware of the importance of choosing the right partner. I also had the opportunity to experience WATSU, an aquatic body therapy. I highly recommend everyone try this new experience at SCOOL!

Urata Clinic / SCOOL Kanazawa:
http://urataclinic-sqolk.jp/

Deportare Club:
https://www.deportareclub.com/