Life in Japan as a foreigner is not always easy, especially if you become sick and don't speak the same language as your doctor.
There is a handful of foreign doctors, mainly practicing in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and a limited number of Japanese doctors who speak English. But for a foreigner living in a rural area who can't speak either English or Japanese, finding the necessary help can be a daunting proposition.
Currently, medical services for foreigners are tightly limited under a reciprocal government arrangement -- only five doctors from Britain, one from the United States, one from France and seven from Singapore are allowed to practice in Japan in exchange for the same number of Japanese doctors who can practice in those countries.