Comments for Pratical Tokyo Stuff

Comment on Doctors I’ve Visited by Mara

Mara — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:58:52 +0000

I’ve been to Dr. Endo to have my 4 month old son checked up and for a vaccination. He was very thorough and warm. Yes, he is a bit old, as well as his clinic (seems to be stuck in the 70s). But he seems to have a lot of experience and gave very sound advice. He spoke English well and answered all my questions. The only draw back is he is a one-man-show, so he will interrupt your time if he needs to answer a call. You also have to help him out a bit when he gives your child a vaccination as he doesn’t have a nurse or a receptionist. I also found his equipment old, but hopefully well maintained and sanitized. We only have the Japanese Health Insurance so it’s a bit hard finding good English speaking doctors. I do recommend him to anyone who doesn’t mind a no frills doctor with substance.

We also see Dr. Martin at Tokyo Surgical and Medical Clinic, and like her a lot. She’s really nice and thorough as well. She doesn’t mind giving strong medication if needed, unlike the Japanese doctors. The only problem is that the prices are astronomical as well.

Comment on Doctors I’ve Visited by Holly

Holly — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:38:18 +0000

Dr. Che is probably in my opinion the worst pediatrician you can bring your child to. He might be good for some when you need to call whenever you like on his private line 24/7 for reassurances. But to me, from our experience, he comes off as greedy, incompetant and irresponsible. He insisted on vaccinating my child while he was still recovering from an illness and then goes on to assure me that giving 8 vaccines to a 2 month old child recovering from a virus, is perfectly safe and normal….that in itself speaks volume about his character…..a true caring and well educated pediatrician will never recommend giving 8 vaccines in one day to a sick 2 month old, even though it might have looked mild, it was not and to say that it is safe! We will not recommend this doctor.

Comment on Doctors I’ve Visited by Susan

Susan — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:16:23 +0000

Thanks, Mini-me. I am going to checkout Dr. Endo even though I don’t speak Japanese. He seems very nice and his credentials are comforting (especially being on the Board of Pediatrics). My father is an internal MD back home, and he does not think that Dr. Hove is qualified to act as pediatrician, based on her medical profile on Think Park’s website.

Comment on Doctors I’ve Visited by Mini Me

Mini Me — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:01:39 +0000

Dr Hove –>
The only thing that bothers me about going to Dr Hove is that she limits the amount of medication she prescribes. As such, it is almost certain that you’d have to go back for more and end up paying for another consultation, not mentioning the fact that you’d have to drag your sick child to the doctor again. You might want to try to work around this by asking her (or the pharmacist) for more medication.

Dr Endo –>
In my opinion, if you speak Japanese, you’d be more comfortable with his style. And yes, he is old. Afterall, it takes decades to obtain those fancy credentials.

Comment on Doctors I’ve Visited by Susan

Susan — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:29:07 +0000

Hi Moms, Does anyone have commentary about Dr. Hove or Dr. Endo? Both are VERY close to my home in Takanawa, and take National insurance (which we have). I’m seeing Dr. Che, but the prices are astronomical without insurance! Dr. Hove is a gastroenterologist, not a pediatrician (although her academic credentials look good). Dr. Endo sounds much older on the phone, and didn’t seem to understand the nature of my questions. Although he does not take appointments, he says his clinic has no rush hour…which sounds like a dwindling practice (although his credentials look very good on the US embassy website). Life would be easier if I could see Dr. Hove or Endo.

Thanks for your input!

Comment on Getting Around with A Pram by Kiran Kodati

Kiran Kodati — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:36:56 +0000

In Kawasaki, there is neither elevator nor escalator for Keihin Tohoku platform. There is one escalator that comes only upward direction.

Comment on Doctors I’ve Visited by Jeanette

Jeanette — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:57:21 +0000

I’ve read the responses regarding both doctors and it seems that everyone has vastly different opinions. The choice of doctor is a very personal decision and why one person finds Dr X good and Dr Y bad and vice versa for another person can vary for many reasons.

I’ve worked with doctors very closely accross different specialities. My experience comes from both the private and public hospitals in a first world country and a private hospital in a developing country. And the experience of the doctors ranged from interns to senior consultants to professors.

My two cents worth? Expensive does not equate the best. But what IS true is that expensive doctors are usally good at marketing themselves.

I adopt the approach to “shop” around for one which i am comfortable with. And comfort level varries from person to person.

As for our experience with Dr Che, he recommended our son a vaccination while he was seriously ill which we did not feel comfortable with. We felt that he was very pushy with his suggestions about what to do and was not interested in hearing our thoughts about specific matters.

As for Dr Seez, his diagnosis was always accurate and his prescriptions were always effective. It’s far for us to get to his clinic (a 45min door-to-door journey, one way) but our whole family goes to him for more serious or persistant illnesses

Comment on Doctors I’ve Visited by Celine

Celine — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:39:15 +0000

I would recommend Dr Che to anyone. He listens to the mums as much as to the children. He drove my infant son and me to the hospital when he needed hospitalization.
I have been disappointed by Dr Seez on several instances and would not recommend him. Once he mades up his mind, nothing can be said. He did not give me any painkillers for a sciatica, ordered the wrong test for my particular case and all in all was very dismissive of what turns out to be a huge herniated disc.

Comment on Getting Around with A Pram by Mini Me

Mini Me — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:57:13 +0000

Elevator at Gotanda? Yay! This is definitely good news. Please keep us updated when it is ready.

Comment on Doctors I’ve Visited by Katherine

Katherine — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:47:29 +0000

I happen to think just the opposite with Dr Seez and Dr Che. I took my son in for a check-up and vaccination shots and he didn’t even take temperature, measure weight, or height before prescribing medication. With Dr Che I have found him to be very patient and willing to listen to how I want my son vaccinated and not medicated if it can be avoided. Maybe it just happened to be a bad day for Dr Seez but I will not be back.