1 Is Japan truly "behind"?

When we talk about women's health, we sometimes hear the phrase "Japan is behind."

However, I don't think so.

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world for pregnancy and childbirth. The maternal and infant mortality rates are low, and the system and medical infrastructure largely support the environment for childbirth.

Access to obstetrician-gynecologists is also relatively good. While in some countries you might have to wait weeks for an appointment, in Japan, you can often be seen relatively quickly.

The number of ultrasound examinations during pregnancy, also known as echoes, also feels substantial compared to other countries.

Furthermore, there are systems in place for screenings for women-specific cancers like cervical and breast cancer, which are subsidized by local governments.

And moving forward, a trend has begun to incorporate women's health items into corporate health check-ups.

In other words, Japan is by no means indifferent to women's health. Rather, the institutional protection is quite significant.

2 Yet, why does "hesitation" arise?

So why is it that when it comes to topics like menstruation, menopause, urinary incontinence, and discomfort related to sex, there's still a sense of bewilderment or hesitation?

It might not be because we are "behind," but rather because the focus of support is slightly different.

Systems for pregnancy, childbirth, and cancer screenings are well-established. On the other hand, daily fluctuations in physical condition and minor ailments that aren't clearly diagnosable tend to remain personal.

Japan is also said to be a "high-context culture." It's a society where things can be understood without being explicitly stated.

This may have become natural.

This isn't a weakness; it's culture. But you don't have to quietly internalize changes in your body.

That's what I believe.

3 Common Misconception: Is this a "special topic"?

Women's health is sometimes treated as a special issue.

However, menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy are all natural changes that occur in the course of life.

It's not difficult because it's special; it's often put off precisely because it's an everyday matter.

You don't deal with your body after it breaks down.
You deal with it as it changes.

Nor can it be simply divided into normal or abnormal.

That's why in this Guide, without inciting anxiety, but also without being vague, we will collectively create a state of "understanding."

4 A small gap between systems and options

In Japan, products are classified into "medical devices," "quasi-drugs," "general goods," and so on.

This difference affects what kind of expressions can be used, the time it takes for approval, and the hurdles to market entry.

This is an important system for ensuring safety.

However, products that are common overseas sometimes struggle to gain traction in Japan. As a result, there are situations where it feels like "there are people who need it, but there are few options."

5 What fermata aims for

fermata is not a company that segregates women's health as something special.

Rather, it is a company that creates a state where women's health can be naturally and safely integrated into daily life.

Building on Japan's well-established systems, we aim to add a little more ease of choice and understanding.

Translating overseas products to align with Japanese systems and culture, collaborating with companies and local governments to create an atmosphere where people can speak openly, and setting up pathways on e-commerce where people can learn and choose.

That is our role.