Japan targets China for medical tourism

Japanese digital content provider Media Kobo will promote medical tours to Japan for health-conscious Chinese through a joint venture in Hong Kong.

Chinese visitors are the largest group by nationality among inbound travellers to Japan, and increasing numbers seek medical treatment or wellness facilities.

Tokyo-based Media Kobo has agreed with Shanghai China Card, an official identification card issuer accredited by the Chinese authorities, to set up the venture.

The planned venture has US$727,000 of capital funds and will be 60% owned by Media Kobo and 40% by Shanghai China Card. The joint venture plans to fully launch the service in the spring of 2019, after piloting it first.

Media Kobo has expanded sales through an online fortune-telling service and extended its business to virtual reality game apps and cross-border e-commerce.

The company has explored business opportunities in China via Media Kobo (Shanghai) Internet Technology, its Chinese subsidiary established in September 2017.

It has decided to enter medical tourism, it says, as “demand for health-care products and medical services are growing among locals”