日本語 
Japans digital healthcare industry is moving faster as many new companies try to solve medical problems using technology. Japans digital healthcare industry is gaining momentum as startups explore ways to address long‑standing medical challenges through technology.
Recently, Second Heart Co., Ltd. Received funding from the Toyama Co‑Accel Fund, which is run by Relic Inc. This money will help Second Heart improve care for feet build stronger relationships with doctors and grow its digital healthcare services throughout Japan. Second Heart Co., Ltd. Will use the investment to improve foot care strengthen medical partnerships and expand digital healthcare services across Japan.
This funding shows that more people are interested in healthcare technologies. These tools can help doctors spot health risks sooner and lighten the burden on hospitals. The funding highlights a growing interest in healthcare technologies particularly solutions that can help medical professionals identify health risks earlier while reducing the workload, on healthcare institutions.
Second Heart Raises Funding to Expand Digital Foot Care Services
Second Heart said it got money from the Toyama Co-Accel Fund by selling Series A shares to a third party, which extended the seed funding round.
The company plans to use the investment across four areas: establishing partnerships with medical institutions in the Hokuriku region improving Steplife launching collaborative research initiatives and strengthening business operations.
Steplife is, at the core of the company’s strategy. Steplife is a foot-checking platform made for people living with diabetes. Steplife lets patients take photos and record the condition of their feet using smartphones. Medical professionals can then look at these records from a distance, which helps spot issues before they turn into problems. I believe Steplife could help many people stay healthy.
According to the announcement, approximately 2,000 patients have registered on the platform in Japan.
Second Heart is also working on a tuning fork. This device is a Class II device. It is meant to screen for neuropathy. The screening takes 30 seconds. Traditional exams can take around 10 minutes. This faster method could be very useful, for healthcare facilities. It allows more people to be screened. It does not require adding work to the already busy clinical workflows.
Why Preventive Healthcare Technology Matters in Japan
Japans healthcare system is under pressure than ever. This is because the number of people is growing and many of them need ongoing care for long-term illnesses. Diabetes is one of those illnesses that requires attention. If diabetes is not managed properly it can lead to problems. These problems can affect how a person walks, how independent they feel and how good their life feels overall.
Foot problems caused by diabetes are especially troubling. Even a small cut or sore on the foot can quickly turn into something worse if it is not noticed or treated in time. In some cases these foot issues can lead to amputation meaning a person might lose a leg.
Regular foot checks are not always done during doctor visits. Doctors and nurses have things to focus on during each patient appointment. With much to do it can be difficult to make sure foot checks happen regularly. This can leave patients at risk those, with diabetes who need careful monitoring.
This is where digital health platforms could make a meaningful difference.
By enabling patients to record their foot health at home Steplife creates a continuous way to monitor. Of depending only on rare hospital visits Steplife provides clinicians with extra insight into changes that happen between appointments. Patients can see how their foot health evolves over time.
In Japan Steplife can help shift the focus from treatment, to preventive digitally supported care.
Regional Innovation Could Strengthen Japan’s HealthTech Ecosystem
The Toyama Co-Accel Fund is. Adds a new part to this announcement. Managed by Relic, the Toyama Co-Accel Fund focuses on turning research into use. The Toyama Co-Accel Fund also helps startups that are linked to universities and other research places in the Hokuriku area.
The Toyama Co-Accel Fund wants to invest in areas such as life sciences, environmental chemistry, materials science and ways to solve problems that affect the region.
Second Hearts works directly with two of these areas: life sciences and solving problems in the region. Second Hearts also focuses on helping people in the region find solutions.
This kind of investment in the region could help fix a long‑standing issue in Japans technology industry. The issue is turning research and new ideas into businesses that can last. The Toyama Co-Accel Fund hopes to solve this problem.
Big technology companies and research places are usually in cities. Regional startup funding programs can help smaller companies get money, advice, on running a business and connections to institutions. Regional funding lets companies stay in their area instead of moving to cities.
For healthtech startups in Japan this development shows an example. The example is how regional investment funds can help create healthcare solutions.
What This Means for Healthcare Businesses and Technology Companies
The investment could have implications beyond Second Heart itself.
For healthcare providers digital monitoring platforms can help improve how patients are followed up after treatment. These tools may also allow detection of health problems. Help make better use of limited medical staff and time. Hospitals and clinics that use monitoring can slowly build care systems that’re more connected and efficient.
For healthtech developers the announcement shows that there is interest in technology that solves real medical issues. It is not enough to create another app. Instead products that work well within routines show clear benefits and gain trust from doctors and nurses are more likely to succeed in the long run.
There could also be chances for medical device makers, software companies, research groups and healthcare service providers to work together. They can develop solutions that bring together hardware, software and care delivery.
But for this to happen on a scale a few key things must be, in place. These include proving that the technology works in settings protecting data making sure different systems can talk to each other and clearly defining who is responsible when alerts are sent or patient conditions change.
These issues will become more important as digital healthcare starts to blend closely with regular hospital and clinic services.
International Opportunities for Japanese Digital Health Businesses
Second Hearts goals go beyond Japan. The company has already made connections through its work in Malaysia. This includes a proof-of-concept project with Malaysias Social Security Organisation called PERKESO and a research partnership with Universiti Putra Malaysia.
It also made a research agreement with Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in November 2025.
These deals show how Japanese healthcare startups can use their research and real-world healthcare experience as a base for growing around the world.
Many countries in Southeast Asia have their problems with diabetes care getting access to healthcare and providing preventive medical services. Technologies created for Japans healthcare system could be used in these areas. They would need to fit local rules and medical practices.
For tech companies these chances could bring in new money and help Japan stay strong, in the global digital health industry.
A Step Forward for Japan’s Preventive Healthcare Future
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Second Heart’s latest funding is more than a financial boost for a new healthcare startup. It shows how important it is to bring medical knowledge, digital tools and local business partnerships to solve tough healthcare problems.
Japan is moving forward with technology-based health solutions and companies like Second Heart that offer preventive care may become key players in the future.
The next steps will depend on how Second Heart grows its network with medical professionals improves its platform Steplife and proves that its technology actually works in real clinics.
If all goes well this could become an example, for other Japanese startups aiming to build businesses around preventive health, digital change and clear social benefits.
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