About Our Clinic

Iris Dental Medical

Iris Dental Medical has been a private clinic in Sagamihara since 2019, serving the Sōbudai community just outside Camp Zama’s Gate 4. Dr. Kaneshima founded the practice and leads it today.

As more American families came through our doors, Dr. Kaneshima welcomed Dr. Kenji Taylor, a U.S.-trained family physician, to add medical care to the practice.

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The gap we saw

Many Americans living in Japan under SOFA have limited access to on-base care. Military treatment facilities prioritize active duty members, so retirees, DoD civilians, contractors and many family members are seen on a Space-Available basis, only when capacity allows. Veterans face an even bigger gap: there is no VA medical center in Japan. Off base, patients must navigate a health system that is unfamiliar and often not available in English.

Dr. Taylor saw this firsthand as a family physician at Camp Zama, and his own family lived it while going through pregnancy and childbirth in Japan. Too many Americans here had no true medical home.

Background: JCMA’s analysis of access to care for SOFA families

Space-Available on baseRetirees, DoD civilians, contractors and many family members are seen only when capacity allows.
No VA medical center in JapanVeterans face an even bigger gap. See Veteran Care.
An unfamiliar system off baseCare in Japan is often not available in English.

Why “Torii Health”

A torii marks a gateway, the threshold you pass through on the way in. Our clinic sits at a threshold too: between the base and the Japanese community, and between the care Americans know and the care available here.

We named our medical services Torii Health because that is the role we want to play, a familiar doorway into care in Japan.

The base Torii Health The community

A red torii gate at the top of a stone path at sunset, with a U.S. base and American flag on the left and a Japanese neighborhood and bay on the right

Our Mission

Create a medical home for SOFA Americans in Japan built around relationships, continuity, and the needs of the community.

Comprehensive Family Medicine

One physician team for children, adults and whole families across the lifespan, so your care doesn’t depend on whether a slot opens on base.
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Integrated Behavioral Health

Mental health care built into primary care, from the same team that knows you.
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Connected Care

When you need testing, a specialist or a hospital in Japan, we coordinate the next steps and stay involved.
How we coordinate care

One practice, medical and dental

All medical and dental care is provided by Iris Dental Medical, at one location near Camp Zama.

Our goal is to provide as much of your care as possible through one familiar team, and to stay with you when care needs to happen elsewhere.

See our medical services, insurance & billing, and FAQ.