ABOUT US
Asterra Industrial Physicians’ Office
Asterra Industrial Physicians’ Office is an occupational health practice based in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo. Our physicians help companies build healthy and compliant workplaces — from mental health care and overwork prevention to return-to-work planning, health and safety committees, and training on women’s health.
We mainly serve companies in Tokyo and support organizations throughout Japan through online consultations. Consultations can be conducted in English.
- 20+ years of clinical experience
- 7+ years as an occupational physician
- Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo / online nationwide
- Consultations in English
FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES
Support for international and foreign-affiliated companies
Our occupational physician consultations can be conducted in English. We work with international employees and HR teams on mental health, overwork-related interviews, health checkup follow-up, sick leave and return to work, and workplace accommodations.
- Occupational health consultations in English
- English communication with HR and labor relations teams
- Mental health and return-to-work support for international employees
- Explaining Japan’s occupational health system to overseas headquarters
- Online consultations for workplaces throughout Japan
- Health education for multinational teams
The scope of service depends on the contract and the individual case. When you contact us, please let us know your workplace location, number of employees, and the type of support you need.
OUR STRENGTHS
Why companies choose Asterra
01
Physician-led, practical support
Work-fitness opinions after health checkups, overwork interviews, mental health cases, and return-to-work decisions — handled from both a medical and a practical workplace perspective.
02
A stable team of physicians
We collaborate with several physicians and occupational physicians, so we can respond flexibly to your company’s size, sites, and specialist needs.
03
Mental health and return to work
We support decisions that HR teams often find difficult: work accommodations, sick leave, reviewing medical certificates, and designing return-to-work programs.
04
Committees and health promotion
From setting up health and safety committees and workplace inspections to health education and certification programs such as Health & Productivity Management.
05
Women’s health and life stages
Drawing on pediatric expertise, we offer training and consultations on menstruation and PMS, menopause, pregnancy and childbirth, preconception care, and balancing work with childcare.
06
Online, nationwide
We combine on-site visits in Tokyo with online consultations, so companies across Japan can access continuous support.
SERVICES
Services
- Regular on-site and online occupational physician consultations
- Health and safety committee participation
- Workplace inspections and improvement proposals
- Work-fitness opinions based on health checkups
- Interviews and reports for employees working long hours
- Post–stress check interviews and workplace improvement
- Work-fitness evaluations for mental health cases
- Return-to-work program design and assessment
- Health education and management training
- Preconception care training
- Women’s health training across life stages
- Infection control and vaccination consultation
- Support for health promotion and certification programs
OUR PHYSICIAN
Message from the director
Director / Occupational Physician
Ayuko Suwanai
MD, PhD
Board-certified pediatrician and supervising pediatrician / Occupational Health Consultant
Hello, I’m Ayuko Suwanai, director of Asterra Industrial Physicians’ Office.
With more than 20 years of clinical experience and over 7 years as an occupational physician, I help companies create healthier, safer, and more sustainable workplaces.
Employee health issues are diverse — mental health, lifestyle-related diseases, infectious diseases, women’s health, pregnancy and childbirth, childcare and caregiving, sick leave, and return to work. We aim to provide support that is practical and sustainable for both companies and employees.
Credentials
- 2002 — MD, Keio University School of Medicine
- 2014 — PhD in Medicine, Keio University Graduate School of Medicine
- Department of Pediatrics, Keio University Hospital
- Affiliated hospitals and clinics; Tokyo metropolitan public health centers
- Board-certified pediatrician and supervising pediatrician
- Occupational Health Consultant
- Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Contact Tracing course
We also work closely with Dr. Hirotsugu Suwanai (MD, PhD), a specialist in internal medicine, diabetes and endocrinology, to support employee health from both physical and mental health perspectives.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN JAPAN
Key requirements for employers in Japan
Under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, requirements are determined for each workplace (office, branch, or factory), not for the company as a whole.
| Workplace size | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 50 or more workers | Appoint an occupational physician (part-time is allowed) |
| 1,000 or more workers, or 500 or more in certain hazardous work | Appoint a full-time (exclusive) occupational physician |
| More than 3,000 workers | Appoint two or more occupational physicians |
| Fewer than 50 workers | Employers should make efforts to have a physician provide health management |
Main duties of an occupational physician
- Workplace inspections at least once a month (once every two months under certain conditions)
- Opinions on work accommodations based on health checkup results
- Interviews for workers whose overtime and holiday work exceeds 80 hours a month and who show accumulated fatigue, upon request
- Interviews for workers identified as highly stressed in the stress check, upon request
- Participation in the health and safety committee
- Recommendations to the employer when needed to protect workers’ health
ACCESS
Location and coverage
Address
Shinjuku Island Tower 2F
6-5-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 163-1302, Japan
We mainly serve companies in Tokyo and provide nationwide support through online consultations.
CONTACT
Contact us
For occupational physician contracts, online consultations, return-to-work support, or training on women’s health, please use our inquiry form. Inquiries in English are welcome.
The form opens in Google Forms. You may fill it in in English.