Thank you for visiting the website of Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital.
The history of Matsuzawa Hospital dates back to the Tokyo Prefectural Lunatic Asylum, established in 1879. As such, Matsuzawa Hospital is the oldest existing public psychiatric hospital in Japan. Today, as a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital Organization, a local independent administrative agency established in July 2022 under the philosophy of “Supporting the Metropolis of Tokyo through Healthcare,” the hospital serves as a psychiatric medical center for the residents of Tokyo. I assumed the position of the 20th Director of Matsuzawa Hospital in April 2025.
Looking both within Japan and around the world, we are confronted with realities that cannot be ignored, including climate change, devastating natural disasters, and ongoing international conflicts. These challenges cast a heavy shadow over our daily lives. It is not difficult to imagine that such circumstances place an even greater burden on individuals suffering from mental illness. In this increasingly challenging era, I believe we are being called upon to unite our efforts and fulfill our mission, however small each individual's contribution may seem.
The most important mission of Matsuzawa Hospital is to provide psychiatric care that leaves no one behind. In other words, we are committed to maintaining our role as the “last bastion of psychiatric healthcare” in Tokyo. At the same time, we must continue to promote medical care that protects the dignity, self-respect, and peace of mind of every patient, while striving to prevent abuse and minimize restrictive interventions.
With this commitment in mind, we added a new principle to our hospital philosophy in fiscal year 2026: “Practicing psychiatric healthcare that harms no one.” To realize these two guiding principles, we will devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the following five basic policies:
• Fulfill our role as a psychiatric medical center for the people of Tokyo
• Provide high-quality psychiatric and general medical care
• Deliver patient-centered healthcare and nursing care
• Promote healthcare that is open and accessible to society
• Strive to be a hospital that is trusted and valued by the local community
Psychiatric healthcare requires not only expertise in specialized fields but also a broad perspective that encompasses community healthcare, team-based care, and holistic medicine. At Matsuzawa Hospital, all staff members respect one another and actively exchange ideas to improve the quality of care we provide.
We also value the voices of Tokyo residents and are committed to building an even better Matsuzawa Hospital together with the community. We welcome your suggestions, opinions, and requests.
Thank you for your continued understanding and support.
June 2026
Akihiko Nunomura, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital