01 Is Japan really "behind"?

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

But I don't think so.

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world for pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal and child mortality rates are low, and many aspects of the childbirth environment are supported by systems and medical infrastructure.

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

The number of prenatal ultrasound examinations, or "echos," is also quite extensive compared to global standards, I feel.

Furthermore, screenings for women-specific cancers such as cervical cancer and breast cancer are available through municipal subsidies.

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

In other words, Japan is by no means a country indifferent to women's health. Rather, a very large part is protected by systems.

02 Even so, why does "hesitation" arise?

So why is it that themes like menstruation, menopause, urinary incontinence, and sexual discomfort still leave us with some confusion and hesitation?

It's not because we are "behind," but perhaps because the focus of support is slightly different.

Pregnancy, childbirth, and cancer screenings are well-established as systems. On the other hand, daily fluctuations in physical condition and ailments that aren't clearly diagnosed as illnesses tend to remain personal.

Japan is also said to be a "high-context culture." It's a society where things are understood even without explicit verbalization.

Perhaps this has become natural.

This is not a weakness; it is culture. But you don't have to quietly internalize even bodily changes.

That's what I believe.

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

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

But 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 precisely because it's part of daily life that it tends to be put off.

You don't deal with your body only when it breaks down.
You interact with it as it changes.

Nor can it be simply divided into normal or abnormal.

That's why in this Guide, without instilling anxiety but also without being ambiguous, we will together cultivate "a state of understanding."

04 The small gap between systems and options

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

This difference affects what expressions can be used, the time it takes for approval, and the hurdles to bringing a product to market.

This is an important system for ensuring safety.

However, products that are common overseas may not gain traction in Japan. As a result, there are times when it feels like "there are people who need it, but there are few options."

05 What fermata aims for

fermata is not a company that separates 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 add a little more ease of choice and understanding.

Translating overseas products to fit Japanese systems and culture, collaborating with companies and local governments to create an atmosphere where people can talk openly, and creating a guided path on e-commerce where people can learn and choose.

That is our role.