In reviewing this issue of the magazine, I couldn’t help taking a minute to be thankful for all that we have. Sure, during our years in Tokyo, our family has wandered through the maze of healthcare in a foreign country. We’ve seen raging midnight fevers, a bout with pneumonia, a minor dental emergency and even childbirth. We’ve learned about the devastation nature can cause, and the warning signs of a tsunami. But, fortunately, we haven’t experienced a true medical emergency. After watching a few friends and neighbors go through some scary things however, we do have an emergency plan (and an earthquake kit packed).

If you live anywhere near Tsukiji and have a medical emergency, St. Luke’s International Hospital is known throughout the international community for its excellent care. With English speaking medical staff and signage, this can make a scary situation a bit less frightening. Plus, St. Luke’s has a 24-hour Emergency Room – a rarity in Tokyo! Finding out that ambulances in Japan don’t administer emergency medical care (they only provide quick transportation) can be a shocker, so read on, make a plan for your family, program emergency numbers into your mobile phone, and rest easy knowing you’re well prepared.

Suzanne Davison,
Editor