【Daiki Sakai (Founder)】A trusted gateway to finding your ideal ophthalmologist in Japan

Jul 7
9 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

【Daiki Sakai (Founder)】A trusted consultation gateway for anyone seeking their ideal ophthalmologist in Japan.

"Ophthoagent" is a service that connects patients worldwide with Japanese ophthalmologists, offering expert information and consultation grounded in my insight as a practicing ophthalmologist.

“Freeing patients from the burden of choice when seeking a specialist.”

“Smoothly reaching the specialist who is best suited for you.”

At Vision Forth Inc., our goal is to provide patients with a future defined by these two ideals. We want to eliminate the uncertainty for those who worry, “With only one-sided, positive information available online, I cannot judge which doctor is truly right for me.”

As a practicing ophthalmologist actively engaged in both clinical care and research, my deep roots in the field allow me to accurately identify the right specialist for each specific condition.The core role of our company is to create a seamless bridge between these experts and the patients who are seeking them.

Through this interview, I would like to share my background and the story behind founding this company. For those who wish to consult a Japanese ophthalmologist but hesitate out of uncertainty, I hope this serves as your first reassuring step—beginning with understanding our services and the high standards of Japan’s ophthalmic medicine.

Let me introduce you to the true value that Japanese ophthalmology has to offer.

【Founder’s Profile】

Daiki Sakai, MD, PhD

Founder and CEO, Vision Forth Inc.

Born in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, on October 27, 1992. Dr. Sakai graduated from the Kobe University School of Medicine in 2017. He founded Vision Forth Inc. on September 28, 2022, providing comprehensive support for international patients traveling to Japan for advanced ophthalmic treatment through medical tourism. As an active, practicing ophthalmologist, he also currently serves at Kobe University Hospital and the Kobe City Eye Hospital.

Qualifications：Board Certified Ophthalmologist, The Japanese Ophthalmological Society

Affiliations: The Japanese Ophthalmological Society / The Japanese Retina and Vitreous Society / The Japanese Ocular Inflammation Society / The Japan Glaucoma Society / The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine

Areas of Expertise: Retina, Regenerative Medicine

【Background】A vibrant, joyful childhood, inspired by my father to pursue medicine.

I was born and raised in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture—a basin town known for recording some of the highest temperatures in Japan, with a population of around 100,000. My family consisted of four people: my father, who was a dentist; my mother, a homemaker; and my younger brother. Because my father ran his private practice right beneath our living quarters, he was always close by and frequently played with me. In our rural neighborhood, we had a spacious garage where we set up a ping-pong table, hosting lively tournaments with family and friends. Looking back, I enjoyed a vibrant and joyful childhood.

When it came to academics, my style was to focus intensely right before exams to maintain my grades, which worked well enough for me. My decision to pursue a career in healthcare was naturally inspired by my father. Initially, I planned to follow in his footsteps to become a dentist. However, upon learning that medical school presented a higher academic challenge, a spark of ambition was ignited, and I decided to take on the challenge and shift my focus to medicine.

At the time, honestly, I didn't fully grasp the practical differences between being a dentist and a medical doctor. I had no prior connection to Kobe University, my alma mater, either. Looking back, my choice was guided by nothing more than a vague impression and the intuitive sense I had at that moment.

【Specialty】Fascinated by the beauty of the eye and a field where a doctor can provide complete, standalone care.

However, choosing my specialty during my post-graduate residency was a period of deep conflict for me. Neurosurgery, psychiatry, ophthalmology, and cardiology were all among my top candidates.

What finally brought me to ophthalmology was the profound impact of seeing an eye surgery for the first time. The eye is simply beautiful. Ophthalmic surgery possesses a unique elegance—often described as looking into a cosmos. Because the eye has very few blood vessels, there is almost no bleeding during procedures. While it is a surgical field, I was never particularly comfortable with large amounts of blood, which made me feel that ophthalmology was uniquely suited to my temperament.

Another major appeal was the ability for a single doctor to oversee the entire process, from diagnosis to treatment. It is a medical style where you stand firmly before your patient and heal them with your own two hands. The clear sense of ownership—the feeling of "taking full responsibility for this eye"—deeply resonated with me.

Furthermore, I initially thought that because the eye is a small organ, it would be easier to grasp its entire scope and deepen my expertise. In reality, I discovered after becoming an ophthalmologist that it is far from a simple organ; its specialties are highly subdivided from front to back. Yet, even with that realization, I am confident that I chose the field that fits me best.

【Inspiration】Introducing Japan's world-class ophthalmologists to push the industry forward.

A doctor’s work at a hospital typically centers on research, clinical practice, and training the next generation. However, I found myself wondering if there was something more I could do. To be completely honest, that is why I started moving forward with a simple thought: "Let’s just try starting a company."

I didn't have a crystal-clear vision right from the beginning. While it may not have been the most conventional or seamless start, thanks to the support of the doctors around me, the structure has beautifully come together. Today, what I want to achieve is very clear, and the number of specialists who willingly cooperate with us continues to grow.

My core inspiration now is to share with the world that Japan is home to truly world-class ophthalmologists. The standard and expertise of Japanese ophthalmology are genuinely high. I continue to learn every day, aspiring to become like the senior doctors I deeply respect. Because I truly love this field, I want to deliver Japanese ophthalmic care in the best possible way—and I firmly believe that doing so will directly benefit patients worldwide.

The company name, "Vision Forth," reflects my wish to help the ophthalmology industry move forward. While "Vision" represents a future outlook, it also signifies sight and the entire ophthalmic field. Among the many combinations I considered, the word "Forth"—meaning "forward"—aligned perfectly with my intent. I also drew inspiration from "Vision Care," a company led by Dr. Masayo Takahashi (Advisor at the Kobe City Eye Center Hospital Research Center), a mentor whom I hold in the highest regard.

【Mission】Creating a platform where specialists fully leverage their expertise to connect with patients.

beyond the walls of a traditional hospital allows us to create a new space that directly connects specialists with patients. This very idea is the origin of our challenge.

One of the critical issues we as specialists face is the lack of environments where we can fully leverage our knowledge and expertise. No matter how deeply we pursue specialized knowledge, routine outpatient clinics alone do not provide enough opportunities to utilize it to its full potential.

Many doctors dedicated to research remain affiliated with university hospitals while also traveling to examine patients at regional hospitals and clinics. In Japan, remuneration from university hospitals is largely fixed, regardless of differences in specialization or overall workload. Consequently, to secure additional income that reflects their true effort, doctors inevitably find themselves needing to take on these multiple part-time positions. While the necessity of regional healthcare is unquestionable, it is counterproductive when doctors who have studied relentlessly to refine their expertise must handle work outside their specialty just to make a living, or face a reality where they cannot secure sufficient time for their research.

On the other hand, patients who truly need this specialized knowledge exist all over the world. There is a clear demand from patients who want to hear directly from the very experts who know the most about their condition and are conducting cutting-edge research. Yet, an adequate platform to meet this need simply does not exist. Furthermore, a universal challenge—not unique to Japan—is how difficult it is for patients to find the right doctor. This is the core problem we set out to solve.

【Insight】Empowering healthcare professionals to create content and deliver clear explanations.

Currently, our primary focus is on attracting international patients to Japan. While Japanese patients already have access to a high standard of medical care, the environment for overseas patients is quite different.

In my own clinical practice, I have personally met individuals who traveled to Japan specifically because they believed our medical care surpassed that of their home countries. This experience led me to believe that our true service lies in bridging the gap between patients who hold high expectations for Japanese medicine and the exact specialists best suited to treat their specific conditions.

As more patients gather, clinical track records accumulate, patient pathways are refined, and more cooperating specialists are drawn to our platform. To trigger this positive cycle, our immediate priority is ensuring that patients can easily find us.

To achieve this, enriching our web content is essential. We focus particularly on creating well-explained content regarding treatments that can only be received in Japan. While specialists naturally output their knowledge through academic papers, these are not meant for patients to read. On the other hand, most patient-facing content online is created by marketing agencies with little to no medical background, resulting in a tone that feels heavily commercialized.

I felt there was a significant shortage of content that sits right in the middle: "content written directly by medical professionals, tailored specifically for patients." That is why our company focuses on carefully crafting honest, reliable content, ensuring that international patients can find the trustworthy information they need.

【Value】Eliminating "one-sided, positive information that leaves you unsure if it fits you"—providing clear reasons for doctor selection and a seamless entire treatment experience in Japan.

Our service serves as a comprehensive gateway for Japanese ophthalmology as a whole, receiving initial consultations and guiding patients to the most appropriate medical institutions. In doing so, we make it a strict rule to carefully explain the specific reasoning behind each recommendation. We believe our true value lies in clearly presenting the rationale—the objective evidence of why a particular specialist fits that individual patient—so that patients never feel they are being mechanically referred simply for a fee.

Naturally, some patients are capable of researching, selecting their own clinics, and reaching out directly. We understand that our media platforms sometimes lead to direct inquiries to hospitals and clinics, and we fully welcome this. It enhances the overall credibility of Japanese ophthalmology, which we view as a highly positive outcome.

Where we truly want to offer our support is to those patients who find themselves overwhelmed, thinking, "Every website only highlights the positives, making it impossible to judge what is actually right for me." For those who are left searching without clear answers, routing their journey through us ensures a much more seamless and confident experience in finding the right hospital in Japan.

【To Our Partners】Elevating our specialties to lead the global stage in Japanese ophthalmology.

To Japan’s ophthalmic community, I want to create a world where doctors can fully demonstrate their expertise and truly shine. It is a world where our deep knowledge, experience, and skills are utilized in a way that directly benefits patients worldwide.

I believe that many of us in the field share a mutual dedication to refining our expertise and competing at the highest global level through Japanese ophthalmology. I hold the deepest respect for the doctors who maintain these high standards and devote themselves to their work every single day.

The same holds true for research and development, as well as academic matchmaking; it is essential to create environments where our specialized expertise is genuinely valued and utilized.

To realize this vision, we must consistently build trust. Our goal is to become a platform where doctors naturally gather, and where anyone who interacts with us feels, "This is an organization I can truly rely on." Creating a sustainable framework that allows us to fully exercise our expertise while being properly supported is the core mission for both our company and myself.

Currently, we are building our network with doctors through a thoughtful, invitation-based approach. By focusing on specialists with proven expertise at this stage, we aim to maintain the true value of our service and carefully build deep trust—not just for our company, but for Japanese ophthalmology as a whole.

"Let us create an environment where our specialized expertise is fully utilized." "Let us ensure appropriate remuneration, allowing us to use our resources in a more effective way." "And let us connect these outcomes directly to our next research, clinical pursuits, and medical activities."

We look forward to working alongside doctors who share this philosophy and wish to move forward together.

【To Our Patients】Resolving your hesitation when choosing a specialist, and addressing the shortfalls of standard Japanese services.

In medicine, effective care depends not only on clinical knowledge but also on human connection and compatibility. Because this dynamic deeply affects how smoothly your treatment progresses, we thoughtfully facilitate each matching, fully taking your personal preferences into account.

We provide our services from outside the traditional hospital framework precisely because we want to support those patients who find themselves hesitant and lost within existing systems. While Japan is a fundamentally honest nation that avoids aggressive commercial marketing, factors like response speeds and complex administrative procedures can sometimes become barriers. Our goal is to eliminate these anxieties and hurdles, ensuring your entire treatment journey in Japan is smooth and comfortable.

From your very first inquiry, we focus on providing solid, comprehensive information. You are entirely free to decide whether to officially move forward with us after experiencing the value of this initial support. To begin with, it is more than enough just to consider us as one of your options. If you have even a slight interest in Japanese ophthalmology, please feel free to reach out to us anytime.

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Contact spots here: https://www.ophthoagent.com/contact