Sugiyama Clinic, the Only Medical Institution in Toi District, Closes Down After 98 Years of Serving Local Healthcare | March 23, 2026 Hakodate Shimbun / Hakodate Area News – ehako.com

News Highlights

Sugiyama Clinic, which has supported local healthcare in the Toi district of Hakodate City, Hokkaido for 98 years, closed its doors on March 23, 2026. As the sole medical institution in the area, its closure has led to expressions of regret from local residents. The news highlights suggest that closure costs can run into millions of yen, with a benchmark for business succession compensation being 0.5 to 1.5 times the annual sales. It also indicates that the succession period for clinics without beds is typically 4 to 10 months, and hints at the possibility of succession with consideration for staff and patients.

M&A Medical Editorial Department’s Perspective

The closure of Sugiyama Clinic should be viewed within the specific context of the Toi district in Hakodate City. Its 98-year legacy of supporting the health of residents as the sole medical institution is immeasurable. However, its closure highlights the fragility of healthcare provision systems in rural areas. Closures due to a lack of successors are a persistent issue nationwide, but this case suggests a cost comparison between “closure vs. succession.” While closure incurs costs in the millions of yen, succession can be expected to yield compensation ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 times annual sales, according to general benchmarks. This is not merely a cost calculation but touches upon the fundamental question of how to value the “intangible asset” of continuity in local healthcare. In areas like Toi, if Sugiyama Clinic had opted for business succession, it might have opened up a more desirable future for the community, including continued employment for staff and ongoing care for patients. The benchmark of 4 to 10 months for the succession of clinics without beds also suggests that early decision-making leads to smooth succession.

Points Raised by This News

• The significant impact on the community of closing the chapter on 98 years of history as the sole medical institution in the Toi district.
• The direct impact of closures due to a lack of successors on the maintenance of the local healthcare provision system.
• The comparison between closure costs and business succession compensation highlights the economic aspects of choices in healthcare institution management.
• The unique nature of being the sole clinic in a district may place greater emphasis on consideration for patients and staff during business succession.

Practical Questions Arising from This News

• What kind of medical services will residents of the Toi district receive following the closure of Sugiyama Clinic?
• What support measures are being implemented by Hakodate City and Hokkaido to prevent the closure of the sole clinic in a district?
• What lessons can the closure of Sugiyama Clinic offer to managers of other sole medical institutions in different regions?

If You Feel “Should I Consult Too?”

The closure of Sugiyama Clinic raises a pertinent issue for many healthcare institution managers from the perspective of local healthcare continuity. If you are experiencing concerns about a lack of successors or future management at your own clinic, you should consider business succession as an option, not just closure. As suggested in the news, closure involves costs and has a significant impact on the community. By consulting with experts early on, you can explore the possibility of succession under better terms, while still showing consideration for staff and patients. It is important to first pause and reflect on the current state and future of your own clinic.

M&A Medical (CentralMedience Inc.) supports the business succession of medical corporations, hospitals, and clinics on a full success fee basis as an M&A support institution certified by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. Consultations are accepted with strict confidentiality. Free consultations are available here.