To All Participants of the 21st Century Birth Cohort Study (Born in 2010)

News Highlights

On May 13, 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that a request for cooperation in the “21st Century Birth Cohort Study (Born in 2010)” had been made to its participants. This study tracks the growth, development, and changes in living environments of children from birth to the present day over the long term, serving as foundational data for public health and childcare support policies. The study participants are children born in 2010 (Heisei 22) and their guardians.

M&A Medical Editorial Department’s Perspective

The implementation of a public survey like the “21st Century Birth Cohort Study” highlights the importance of accumulating data with a long-term perspective for society as a whole. Reframing this in the context of medical institution management, it underscores the necessity of long-term planning in “business succession.” The timeline where a chairman or director begins to consider the “successor issue” around age 60 and prepares for 5-10 years thereafter overlaps with the fact that the “children born in 2010” targeted by this study will turn 15 in fiscal year 2025. In other words, the generation that will bear the responsibility for future medical care provision is growing up right now. Considering that this cohort will not only become users of medical institutions in the future but also potential healthcare professionals and managers, it is essential for medical institutions to formulate and execute business succession plans with a 10-20 year outlook “now” to avoid closure or廃業 (going out of business) and ensure the continuity of regional healthcare.

Points Highlighted by This News

• The long-term planning nature of public surveys emphasizes the need for planning in medical institution business succession.
• The fact that the “children born in 2010” are turning 15 suggests it is time to consider future medical needs and providers.
• Formulating and executing business succession plans with a 10-20 year outlook is directly linked to the sustainability of regional healthcare.
• Preparation starting “now” is required to avoid closure or going out of business and to ensure the continuity of medical care provision.

Practical Questions Arising from This News

• Is there a possibility that these study participants will become patients or successors of my clinic in the future?
• What specific content would a business succession plan looking 10-20 years ahead entail?
• What kind of specific support can specialized advisors focused on medical institutions provide?

If You Feel “Should I Consult Too?”

When a chairman or director approaches around age 60 and begins to consider their health status and future retirement timing, it is the perfect moment to start preparing for business succession. Like this “21st Century Birth Cohort Study,” long-term planning and execution are key to avoiding the worst-case scenario of closure or going out of business and connecting the contributions to regional healthcare, cultivated over many years, to the future. We recommend first organizing the current status and future vision of your clinic and then considering consultation with specialists.

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