Despite losing his right-hand man as a surgeon, he maintained his belief as a doctor and pursued a career in cutting-edge cosmetic medicine.

CLINIC 9ru, a members-only establishment located inside The Peninsula Tokyo.

Anti-aging care that integrates the world's most advanced regenerative medicine.

”Anti-aging medicine, born from the world of "fighting against aging," originated in Europe and the United States in the 1990s. Its aim is to improve daily health and quality of life (QOL), and as a result, achieve healthy longevity. The concept of anti-aging medicine has steadily developed, incorporating chemical approaches. Thanks to technological advancements and massive investments in research and development, new anti-aging treatments and products are being announced one after another, demand is expanding, and public awareness is rapidly increasing. The global market size for anti-aging services is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 6.1% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2030, reaching US$20.9 billion by 2030. Japan is a world leader in regenerative medicine, and CLINIC 9ru, a membership-based beauty clinic specializing in anti-aging care that brings together the world's most advanced knowledge in regenerative medicine, has been established, offering the latest anti-aging medical treatments and top-class cosmetic medical care. The term "membership-based" might sound intimidating, but this time, we'll be speaking with Dr. Tetsunari Tsukada, the chief director of that cosmetic clinic, and getting a glimpse into his personality.

Dr. Tetsunari Tsukada's Profile
2003: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine (Clinical Research on Cryothawing Therapy for Lung Cancer)
2007: Deputy Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Kawasaki Municipal Kawasaki Hospital (Surgical equipment development and palliative care team management)
Since 2011, I have worked at membership-based clinics such as Roppongi Hills Clinic and Tokyo International Clinic.
Since 2019, he has been involved in the establishment of several regenerative medicine clinics, and based on the knowledge gained from his broad experience ranging from the forefront of clinical practice to cutting-edge medical research, he has devised a state-of-the-art clinic whose mission is anti-aging through advanced medical treatment. He currently serves as the chief director of "CLINIC 9ru" and "THE PREVENTION CLINIC TOKYO".

Dr. Tetsunari Tsukada at CLINIC 9ru, a members-only clinic located within The Peninsula Tokyo.

A leading expert in preventive medicine and anti-aging.

---You are a leading expert in preventive medicine and anti-aging. Could you tell us how you came to pursue this path?
Dr. Tsukada: I decided to dedicate my life to surgery in 1999, and I originally worked as a general surgeon. However, in July 2009, I was involved in an unfortunate accident and lost the use of my right hand, meaning I could no longer use it as my right arm to help people. While I was recovering from a serious injury and receiving palliative care, I was searching for the path I should take in the future. I began to question the fact that current medicine only offers symptomatic treatment. For example, if you have a toothache, we suppress the pain; if your blood pressure is high, we lower it; if your blood sugar is low, you take medication. While these are necessary in the sense of "curing," I began to think that future medicine should not only focus on symptomatic treatment, but also on treating illness before it occurs. This requires reviewing lifestyle habits, and there are many good supplements available that I have recently started taking myself. Moderate exercise is also important, but it all started with realizing the importance of preventive medicine, such as knowing your own body, facing your body, and taking steps to improve it in all aspects and prevent illness.

Reviewing lifestyle habits: diet, exercise, rest, environment, and mental health.

---What is necessary to review one's lifestyle habits?
Professor Tsukada: I believe that "diet, exercise, and rest" are especially important in terms of lifestyle habits, but if I were to add one more, mental well-being is also crucial. When the WHO asked the question, "What is health?", it was concluded that health is not just about physical health; one must also be mentally healthy to be considered healthy. That's why health is such a complex concept. As people get older, they become more interested in their health, but the risks increase in various aspects. Also, a person's health can be harmed if their environment changes. Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine "diet, exercise, rest, environment, and mental well-being" within the context of lifestyle habits.
① Regarding "diet," how much vegetables and fermented foods are being consumed?
② For "exercise," even just walking is fine. For example, the challenge is how to walk 10,000 steps. Furthermore, it's important to build muscle strength. Strengthening your arms, legs and hips, especially your glutes and back, is crucial. Japanese people are an agricultural people, so they tend to hunch over (slouch), which means the muscles in the front of their body develop easily, while the muscles in the back don't. The reason why Westerners look good in suits is because their back muscles are well-developed, their glutes are firm and lifted, and their back muscles are toned and can be shown off, allowing them to wear jackets well. Of course, there are genetic factors, but it is possible to change this by being conscious of how you look in the mirror and consciously maintaining a dignified mindset.
③ "Rest" is about how much quality sleep you get and how well you can reset yourself. I live in Kamakura and work in Tokyo, so I reset myself by spending time in nature on weekends. My hobbies are triathlon and surfing, so I make sure to soak up the sun, work up a sweat, and reset the stress I feel in the big city on the weekends.
④ How can we adapt to the "environment"?
⑤ In terms of "mental state," it varies depending on whether you are alone, have a partner or family, or belong to a community, and it also varies depending on your physical strength, but the key is to consider whether you are achieving mental stability.
The key will be whether you can continuously review these items and incorporate them in a balanced way.

Inner Skin Repair: A highly-regarded cosmetic medical treatment.

---Please tell me about any of the latest anti-aging treatments.
Dr. Tsukada: I believe that figuring out how to activate cells is a global challenge. To combat human aging and make you look 5 or 10 years younger, we offer inner skin repair using autologous fibroblasts (Type II regenerative medicine), concentrated autologous platelet therapy (Type III regenerative medicine), and exosomes through injections, IV drips, and direct introduction into the deep layers of the skin. Unlike conventional dermatological treatments that only approached the skin's surface, the natural vitality and freshness restored from within will bring a level of satisfaction that is on a completely different level. In addition, we incorporate stem cell culture supernatant, NMN, hydrogen, supplements, and our original self-care series, and we believe that what we can do is aim for the best possible outcome tailored to each individual.

The Importance of Anti-Aging and Gut Health

---What are your thoughts on gut health in the context of anti-aging and preventive medicine?
Dr. Tsukada: People are often surprised when I say this, but I actually have a bowel movement four times a day. My 75-year-old father has the same constitution and has a bowel movement two to three times a day, and when I examine his intestines, there are no polyps and they are perfectly healthy. He still competes with me to eat yakiniku (grilled meat), and he often eats A5-grade meat, but he looks very youthful. I think the body can be compared to a Baumkuchen (layered cake), with the outside being the skin and the inside being the intestines. You can wash the outside, but you can't wash the inside yourself, right? Saliva in the mouth, stomach acid from the esophagus to the stomach, and intestinal bacteria all watch over and purify the intestines. The outside and inside are like two mirrors facing each other, so if the inside is clean, the outside will also be clean. The intestines are a collection of lymphatics, and cancer of the small intestine is very rare. This is because it metabolizes and has a lot of lymph. It rarely occurs near the duodenum, but polyps and cancer of the large intestine can be prevented by regulating the intestinal bacteria. By regulating the intestinal environment, skin inflammation can also be prevented. Recently, research into gut bacteria has advanced significantly, attracting so much attention that a session on gut bacteria was even held at the Japan Medical Association General Assembly. It's becoming clear that gut bacteria are effective for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatism, and improvements can also be seen in ulcerative colitis, allergies, skin diseases, and diabetes. I believe that a healthy gut environment contributes to overall health.

Plant-derived lactic acid bacteria necessary for improving gut health

---What kinds of foods are best to consume to improve gut health?
Dr. Tsukada: I also take lactic acid bacteria in supplement form, and I recommend incorporating plant-based lactic acid bacteria, which are compatible with the Japanese body. For those who find supplements difficult, I recommend incorporating pickles and natto into your diet. Among plant-based lactic acid bacteria, it is especially important to ingest "live bacteria." Conventional animal-based lactic acid bacteria only have heat resistance up to 41 degrees Celsius, are weak against acid, cannot coexist in the stomach, and cannot coexist with other microorganisms. However, plant-based lactic acid bacteria have heat resistance up to 55 degrees Celsius, can coexist with stomach acid, and have the ability to grow even with little nutrition. Even if sterilized lactic acid bacteria are included, they will not reach the intestines, so try to ingest live plant-based lactic acid bacteria that can reach the intestines alive.

About membership-based beauty clinics

Dr. Tsukada: Our cosmetic clinic operates under the concept of "treating aging and caring for the future," offering the latest anti-aging medical treatments and top-tier cosmetic medicine. We tailor each treatment to individual clients, and unlike typical cosmetic clinics, we provide total care through long-term beauty plans. We also provide the latest information on beauty, which has made us popular with a wide range of people of all ages who are highly interested in rejuvenation and beauty. The medical care we envision is not "treatment" that begins after a problem occurs, but "proactive care" to create the best possible quality of life for the future. Although we are a membership-based clinic, we first want many people to know about us and experience the best version of themselves, both physically and mentally.