Akaogi Orthopedic Clinic (Sakai, Sashima, Ibaraki)

"At first, I was just lucky enough to have good grades at a rural school, and my parents wanted me to become a doctor, so I thought, why not try to get into medical school? But by the time I graduated from high school, my grades had dropped, and even thinking about medical school was like a dream come true. During my gap year, I studied really hard. I was saying all sorts of nice things... So, I wasn't really particularly interested in becoming a doctor. But once I actually tried it, it was worth it."

Dr. Akagoe Hiroki, the director of Akagogi Orthopedic Surgery Clinic, who spoke to me with a smile and a calm demeanor. After graduating from Chubu University, he worked as a physician at a Chubu University-affiliated hospital, and after working as the chief of the orthopedic department at a general hospital in his hometown, Karasuma Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, he opened his own practice in July 2016.

"As a doctor, I think I'm really glad I chose to be a doctor because I work with my seniors, junior doctors, nurses, and technicians to help patients and make the best treatment choices. And when I see patients getting better the way I want, I feel really happy. I think that kind of environment is not very common. I've been able to continue doing this with the help of my friends, and I actually decided to go into orthopedics because I like drawing and making things. I've always been good at fixing broken joints, stitching torn tendons, cutting bones, and attaching plates. It's nice to see how a broken tendon or a broken bone gets fixed well and the patient can get back to moving normally. The success of the surgery is judged by how well the patient gets back to moving normally. The trick is not to be too harsh in your assessment. It's also good when you can't hide it."

Mr. Akagino is speaking with more energy than before. It really feels like I’m glad he became a orthopedic surgeon.

We are committed to fully understanding the “complaints” of the patients.

“Each patient’s experience of pain is expressed in their own way and with their own words. We listen to what they are trying to convey and what they are really feeling.

We are trying to elicit the complaint by asking questions to help convey the essence of what the plaintiff is claiming, and at the same time, we are trying to provide a “call to action” so that the complaint can be understood properly.

Every day, you strive to conduct thorough examinations so that you do not overlook any of your patients.

When building the hospital, my main focus was “Midori.” Me

Since he is a “fake doctor,” he likes planting trees and pruning them. I hope that when the trees on the property grow and create a shady area, it will feel like a clinic in a park, where insects and birds gather.

As Mr. Akagido said, there are many green trees and lawns around the hospital, so I felt very relaxed. The parking lot is also very spacious, so patients can also stop their cars with confidence.

“The staff employs people who have gained some experience, so there are many veterans. I often have the opportunity to learn from them, which really helps me. They have brought in very talented people. It has been two months since we opened, but I have been able to handle a lot of patients and I have been able to operate without major problems thanks to the staff.”

It seems that you are truly blessed with good staff. Dr. Akagoe was talking to me with a very happy face.

In this region, there are only a few orthopedic surgeons, even including the general hospitals. Therefore, when someone is injured at school or work, they often do not go to the orthopedic department and are treated only with “putting on a bandage,” rather than receiving proper treatment.

We are currently focusing on the initial treatment of injuries, not only providing therapy together with physical therapists, but also promoting awareness. In rehabilitation, for children who have been injured, we are working with the rehabilitation staff to provide instruction on early return to sports and preventing recurrence, as well as stretching and training methods. Regardless of age, muscle training and increasing flexibility are helpful in preventing orthopedic diseases such as low back pain and fractures caused by falls. We believe that physical therapists are necessary in rehabilitation not only for treatment but also from the perspective of disease prevention and conditioning.

I was asked about the need for physical therapists.

“For athletes and young children, there is a time limit within which they can perform at their best. Since junior high and high school are each periods lasting ”three years," it is important for us to minimize the time lost, and also to instruct them to avoid causing any losses."

Since Mr. Akagino himself also plays sports such as baseball, it seems that he has a special affection for children who play sports.

“I want to become a ”clinic that is indispensable in Karacho." I want people to think that if they go there, they will get some sort of help. I feel very fortunate to be in this environment, and I am grateful to my seniors, juniors, teachers, staff at the clinic, the local people who support us, and the patients who come to visit the clinic. I hope I can help the children develop their talents, help the elderly live longer, help people in their working years build a body that allows them to work well, and do whatever I can to make Karacho a better place. I might have overdone it with my words through the clinic... (laughs)"



The local doctor's thoughts on opening came through.

Karasato is located in the southwestern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, about 70 km from Mito, the prefectural capital.

Located within a 50 km radius of central Tokyo, it is bordered by Sakado City to the east and Nishi to the south, by Goshakacho to the west, by Noda City in Chiba Prefecture to the north, and by Furukawa City to the west and east, with an area of approximately 8 km from north to south and 11 km from east to west, covering a total area of 46.59 km².

Karasato is known for its cherry blossom festival "Sakura Tsutsumi," which is considered a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing, and the "Dam River Bank near the Tonegawa River" which was selected as one of the Fuji-no-Miyako (100 Best Views in Kanto) by the Fuji-do Association. It is a town rich in nature with abundant greenery and water. The main annual events include the "Sakura Doll Festival" in January, the "Naga Flower Festival" in April, and the "Karasato Hometown Festival" in July. The "Karasato Hometown Festival" is particularly famous for its large scale and popularity, attracting many people from far and wide.