Doctor & Staff
Director profile
Director / Board Member
Wataru FukaoM.D., Ph.D.
A message from the new director
My name is Wataru Fukao, and I have assumed the role of director of Kawakami Clinic, succeeding our former director.
I will faithfully carry on what my predecessor valued most — medicine built on careful dialogue with each and every patient — so that this clinic remains a place you can visit with peace of mind.
As a board-certified nephrologist, I have practiced at university hospitals, general hospitals and clinics, focusing on chronic kidney disease and dialysis alongside general internal medicine. Hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease often progress without any symptoms. If a health checkup has raised concerns, please do not hesitate to consult us.
In addition to internal medicine, nephrology and cardiology, we continue to offer home medical care and house calls. For conditions outside our specialty, we will refer you to an appropriate medical institution. Honoring my predecessor's legacy, our staff and I will continue to provide careful, attentive care for the health of this community.
Wataru Fukao, Director
Career
| Mar 2007 | Graduated from Hyogo College of Medicine |
|---|---|
| Apr 2007 | Junior residency, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital |
| Apr 2009 | Senior residency, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital |
| Apr 2010 | Department of Nephrology, Yodogawa Christian Hospital |
| Apr 2012 | Physician, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Meiwa Hospital |
| Jul 2017 | Chief Physician, Department of Nephrology, Takarazuka City Hospital |
| Apr 2020 | Board Member, Medical Corporation Ichiguukai (Kawakami Clinic) |
| Jul 2026 | Director (Administrator), Kawakami Clinic |
Areas of practice
Main areas
Specializes in nephrology (chronic kidney disease and dialysis), with broad practice in lifestyle-related diseases including diabetes, general internal medicine, and cardiology.
Other conditions
For conditions outside our specialty, we provide the primary care you need and refer you to an appropriate hospital when more specialized treatment is required.
Licenses and certifications
Medical License, Japan (2007)
Certified Physician, Japanese Society of Internal Medicine (2010)
Certified Nephrologist, Japanese Society of Nephrology (2014)
Certified Specialist, Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (2015)
Board-Certified Internist, Japanese Society of Internal Medicine (2017)
Certified Occupational Physician, Japan Medical Association (2024)
Our staff
Nurse Mutsumi Matsumoto
Nurse Yukiko Shima
Medical clerk Emi Hara
Medical clerk Sachiko Okura
A message from our nursing team
We strive every day to provide nursing care that stays close to each patient.
If anything worries you, please feel free to talk to us.
Our whole team looks forward to seeing you.
In memory of our former director
Dr. Katsuhiko Kawakami, former director of Kawakami Clinic and former president of Medical Corporation Ichiguukai, passed away in July 2026.
From the clinic's founding, he devoted himself to community medicine in Kitahanada as a trusted family doctor. On his behalf, we sincerely thank you for the kindness and support you extended to him over so many years.
The spirit of compassionate care for each patient that he built will be carried on by our new director and the entire staff, so that this clinic remains one our community can visit with confidence.
Rika Kawakami (Fukao), President
Medical Corporation Ichiguukai