Japan: A Hotspot for AI Applications in Healthcare

Cancer detection with AI-powered medical imaging

Endoscopes play a crucial role in early cancer detection, and Japanese manufacturers dominate this field, holding about 98% of the global market. In oncology, AI-powered imaging tools have already shown substantial gains in early cancer detection in Japan, with the domestic AI healthcare market projected to reach an estimated 14.8 billion USD by 2033. However, interpreting endoscopic images remains highly complex and typically requires more than a decade of experience for specialized physicians.

To help address this expertise gap, Japanese startup AI Medical Services (AIM) is embedding the knowledge of highly skilled endoscopists into an advanced AI system. Its AI-powered tool analyzes images of the stomach and colon captured during endoscopic procedures and assesses the likelihood of future cancer development. Trained on more than 200,000 high-resolution endoscopic videos from over 100 medical institutions across Japan, the AI can interpret both still images and live video streams in real time. It also supports physicians by highlighting suspicious areas during examinations, thereby reducing the risk of missed lesions.

AIM’s solution delivers notable performance, analyzing a single image in just 0.02 seconds and detecting cancer with approximately 94% accuracy in research settings.

Academic and clinical institutions in Japan are also at the forefront of AI applications in medical imaging. At the Cancer Institute Hospital in Tokyo, researchers have developed AI models for gastric cancer detection that outperform human endoscopists, achieving up to 98.6% sensitivity for tumors larger than 6 mm. These systems undergo rigorous clinical trials and regulatory reviews to ensure safety before large-scale deployment. Furthermore, the Japanese government plans to invest around 100 billion USD over the next five years to build AI-powered hospitals. According to Grand View Research, 10 such hospitals are expected to be established to address workforce shortages and rising healthcare costs.

To further support healthcare professionals in diagnostics and medical imaging, FPT provides a broad range of technologies across CT, MRI, X-ray, and ultrasound. With deep expertise in integrating advanced imaging systems such as PACS and RIS, FPT enables seamless access to medical data via DICOM viewers and AI-assisted diagnostic tools. By leveraging AI, FPT delivers smart imaging solutions that streamline diagnostic workflows and enhance early disease detection, and has successfully supported more than 160 medical device SMEs in Japan.

AI role in dental care and education

Japan is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into dental care and education, leveraging its advanced technological infrastructure to transform everyday clinical practice. The Japanese dental care market is one of the largest in the Asia-Pacific region, showing strong and steady growth with a projected CAGR of 6.85% through 2030.

AI transforming clinical dental care in Japan

To help sustain and accelerate this market growth, AI is reshaping dental care by applying machine learning and computer vision to large volumes of clinical data. Trained on extensive datasets of dental images and patient records, AI systems can quickly detect patterns and identify early signs of oral diseases such as cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer with high speed and accuracy.

AI-powered platforms also enable clinicians to simulate and visualize multiple treatment options, supporting more informed decision-making. By automating routine, time-consuming tasks, AI reduces clinicians' workload and contributes to more consistent diagnostics and higher-quality patient care.

AI in dental education and national examinations

In dental education, recent studies in Japan highlight the growing potential of AI tools such as ChatGPT. In particular, ChatGPT 4o mini has demonstrated strong performance by passing the Japanese National Dental Examination for two consecutive years, outperforming earlier models such as ChatGPT 3.5 and Google's Gemini.

In the 117th National Dental Exam, GPT-4o achieved an 88.6% score in compulsory questions, significantly surpassing GPT-4's 74.3%. These results underscore AI's increasing value in helping students and professionals grasp complex dental concepts, further showcasing its role in dental education and training.

AI-powered dental workflows with FPT's DentalLab

Aligned with these advances, FPT's DentalLab platform is transforming digital dental workflows through AI-driven automation. DentalLab streamlines 2D and 3D image processing by handling segmentation, registration, and detection tasks with high speed and precision.

Using DentalLab, dental professionals can generate detailed 3D models from CT/CBCT DICOM files in under five minutes and perform accurate segmentation of crowns and gingiva in about one minute. Manual adjustment tools allow clinicians to fine-tune AI-generated results, while a 3D treatment simulator supports virtual tooth repositioning for highly personalized treatment planning.

By reducing manual workload and enhancing diagnostic precision, DentalLab helps improve operational efficiency, treatment quality, and patient communication in modern dental care settings.

Learn more about DentalLab

To explore how DentalLab supports AI-powered dental care and education, visit: https://fptsoftware.jp/industries/healthcare/dental-lab.

Towards a safe future of healthcare with ethical AI initiatives

As healthcare increasingly relies on AI, protecting patients' data privacy has become critical. Japan is taking a leading role by pioneering "sovereign AI"—an approach that prioritizes developing AI models and infrastructure within national borders. This strategy helps safeguard sensitive patient information, strengthen public trust, and support compliance with international regulatory frameworks.

Japan's commitment to sovereign and responsible AI development is also reflected in its regulatory approach. In March 2025, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized a balanced framework that promotes AI innovation while managing potential risks.

In contrast to more rigid regulatory models in the EU and the U.S., Japan has chosen a more flexible strategy. This approach leverages existing laws and encourages voluntary industry guidelines. The introduction of a new AI bill in February 2025 and an interim report from the Cabinet Office further underscore this direction, aiming to ensure transparency and global alignment without hindering innovation.

To support Japan's sovereign AI initiative, FPT Corporation announced a strategic partnership with Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and SBI Holdings in April 2025 to accelerate AI development through the FPT AI Factory ecosystem. This collaboration combines FPT’s technological capabilities with the extensive networks and market expertise of two of Japan’s leading conglomerates.

At the heart of this effort is FPT AI Factory’s “Build Your Own AI” initiative, which focuses on democratizing access to AI.

FPT – Shaping the Future of Healthcare in Japan

With more than 17 years of healthcare experience, a team of over 1,000 AI experts, and strict compliance with global standards such as Hi-Trust, GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 13485, FPT delivers end-to-end solutions spanning system design, development, DevOps, and operations. Focusing on Healthcare & Life Sciences, FPT leverages AI and cloud technologies to boost workforce productivity, unify data for personalized services, and enable patient-centered care at scale.

Discover more about our healthcare services at: https://fptsoftware.com/industries/healthcare