Japanese medical device market

For 25 years Simon Evenett has tracked trade policy developments by governments. Since 2005 he has been Professor of International Trade and Economic Development at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, having taught before at Oxford. He created and runs the Global Trade Alert, the independent trade policy monitoring service used by businesses, business associations, governments, journalists, and analysts. Simon frequently engages with practitioners on the impact of policy developments on business strategy. 

"Since the pandemic began no sector has seen more trade policy disruption than med tech and medicines. It's not all bad news. Few realise that over 100 governments have liberalised imports of medical products in recent months. Are you making the most of this commercial opportunity?"

Mr. Toshiharu Yamada has 40 years experience in the Japanese medical technology market.

After working in a hospital, he has been engaged in importing and distributing medical devices since 1987.

In 1993, he was a founding member of Danek Japan Co., Ltd. which imported and distributed spinal implants as well as instruments in Japan. Danek Japan Co., Ltd. was acquired by Medtronic Group in 1998, and its name was changed to Medtronic Sofamor Danek. He had several roles in this organization including being a director to the departments of regulatory quality, supply chain management and business development, etc.   

From 2012 to 2018, he was the Vice President of the Restorative Therapy Group at Medtronic Japan Co., Ltd.

Since 2018, he has been offering consultations and supporting foreign medtech manufacturers to enter into the Japanese market successfully.

Mr. Yamada graduated from the College of Tokyo Medical Technology in 1980 and also earned his MBA at the Chuo University Business School in 2015.