Local autonomy.
Access to healthcare.
Protection of personal information.
地方自治と地域医療を守る会 is a group established by volunteer lawyers in Japan in April 2024. We work to protect local autonomy, community healthcare and the right to receive medical care.
Who we are
Our work began with concerns about the integration of Japan’s health insurance card system with the My Number card. We examine how policy decisions affect local authorities, access to insured medical care, healthcare providers and the protection of sensitive medical information.
Our activities include discussions with local authorities and medical professionals, symposia, requests to health insurers and other organisations, and policy recommendations based on legal analysis and conditions in practice.
Joint representatives
Nobuo Kojima (小島延夫) — Lawyer, Tokyo Bar Association. Registered as a lawyer in 1984. His background includes teaching administrative and environmental law and bar association work in environmental matters.
Law firm profile page (Japanese)
Ryota Yamagishi (山岸良太) — Lawyer, Daini Tokyo Bar Association. Registered as a lawyer in 1980. He served as President of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association and Vice President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in 2013–2014.
Law firm profile page (Japanese)
Joint opinion addressed to the European Commission
The group is taking a central role in preparing a joint opinion concerning Japan’s personal information protection framework and the EU’s adequacy assessment. The three participating groups are:
- 地方自治と地域医療を守る会 — the group introduced on this website;
- 全国保険医団体連合会（保団連）;
- 個人情報保護機関のあり方研究会有志.
The opinion raises concerns about the independence and effectiveness of Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission, expanded uses of personal data without consent, and the extent to which protection standards depend on delegated rules and guidelines.
It asks the European Commission to examine these issues in the next periodic review, seek explanations and necessary corrective action from Japan, assess the reliability of the Supplementary Rules, and consider appropriate measures under Article 45(5) GDPR if the conditions for adequacy are no longer maintained.
A press conference announcing the planned submission was held on 6 October. The opinion has not yet been sent.
The press materials and the summary as of 6 October are available below. The opinion and its final summary will be published following dispatch; the 6 October summary will then be replaced.
Selected activities
- 6 October 2026: a press conference announcing the planned submission of the joint opinion to the European Commission.
- 2024–2025: requests to health insurance organisations for proactive issuance and automatic renewal of eligibility certificates, to safeguard access to insured medical care.
- September 2025 and August 2026: symposia addressing the My Number health insurance card system, with partner organisations.
Contact
Contact: info@jichi-iryo.org