Neurology

What we do

The Department of Neurology is a medical specialty that diagnoses and treats a wide spectrum of symptoms and diseases affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles.

Addressing fundamental issues closely tied to daily life—such as consciousness, movement, sensation, and memory—our department plays a critical role as a comprehensive medical service that evaluates the body as a whole.

Our Commitment
At the Department of Neurology, our goal is to support our patients' health through early diagnosis and optimal treatment. We strive to provide patient-centered, compassionate care by maintaining close collaboration with other medical specialties and delivering expert neurological services.

(Updated: December 2024)

Conditions we handle

Neurological symptoms may be associated with the following conditions:

Cerebrovascular Diseases: Stroke (Ischemic Stroke / Cerebral Infarction, Intracerebral Hemorrhage, etc.).

Cognitive & Degenerative Disorders: Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease, etc.), Parkinson's Disease, and Related Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Intractable Neurological Diseases: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other motor neuron diseases.

Epilepsy & Headache Disorders: Epilepsy, Migraine, and Chronic Headaches.

Infectious & Inflammatory Diseases: Encephalitis, Meningitis, and Spinal Cord Disorders.

Immune-Mediated Neuromuscular Diseases: Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Myasthenia Gravis, etc.

Secondary Neurological Symptoms: Neurological manifestations arising from systemic internal diseases or drug therapies.

Emergency vs. General Outpatient Care Guidance

Below is a guide explaining when to seek Emergency Services (ER) versus scheduling a General Outpatient Consultation.

Symptoms Requiring Immediate Emergency Care

If you or someone around you experiences any of the following symptoms, please seek emergency medical care immediately. Delaying evaluation poses a high risk of life-threatening complications or permanent neurological deficits:

Sudden Alteration of Consciousness: Sudden loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness to verbal cues.

Seizures: First-time seizure onset, or continuous/uncontrolled seizures.

Sudden, Severe Headache: An abrupt, excruciating headache (especially "the worst headache of your life").

Sudden Unilateral Weakness or Numbness: Sudden paralysis, weakness, or loss of sensation on one side of the body or face.

Sudden Visual Impairment: Abrupt loss of vision or visual field defects.

Severe Vertigo with Vomiting or Inability to Walk: Sudden, intense dizziness accompanied by severe nausea, vomiting, or gait instability.

Fever Accompanied by Confusion or Severe Headache: High fever with altered mental status or stiff neck/headache (suspected Encephalitis or Meningitis).

Post-Traumatic Neurological Symptoms: Impaired consciousness, limb weakness, or numbness following head or neck trauma.

Symptoms Suitable for General Outpatient Consultations

If your symptoms are non-urgent but require timely medical evaluation, diagnosis, and ongoing management, please schedule a General Outpatient Visit:

Chronic or frequent migraines and recurrent headaches.

Persistent numbness, tingling, or tremors in the hands, legs, or face.

Progressive muscle weakness or difficulty moving limbs.

Unsteadiness, lightheadedness, or mild dizziness.

Memory loss, cognitive decline, or slow changes in speech, behavior, or personality.

New or changing symptoms in patients currently under treatment for epilepsy.

Consultations or ongoing disease management for chronic neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson's disease, ALS, intractable neurological diseases).

When in Doubt

If you are unsure whether a symptom requires emergency care or a general clinic appointment, please do not hesitate to contact our medical institution immediately. Because many neurological conditions require rapid decision-making and intervention, we strongly recommend seeking emergency evaluation without delay if you feel anxious or suspect an acute condition.

Number of cases

Number of outpatients: about 27,343/year
Number of inpatient: 16,853 / year

(FY2024 Record)

Operation results

None

List of Doctors

Senior Director, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Toshio FUKUTAKE

Subspeciality
General clinical neurology, neurosymptomatology, headache, cerebrovascular disease, spinal cord disease, Parkinson's disease, cognitive impairment, MRI diagnosis

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Chiba University
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Member / Supervising Physician of the Japanese Society of Neurology Board Certified Member / Supervising Physician of the Japan Stroke Society Board Certified Member / Supervising Physician of the Japanese Headache Society Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, JSIM appointed physician for fellowship training Pysician designated by the Act on the Welfare of Persons with Physical Disabilities (physical disability, speech disorder, mastication impairment, equilibrium disorder)
Education & Career	Mar 1981: Graduated from Chiba University School of Medicine M.D., Ph.D. Formerly Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University Apr 2003: Joined Kameda Medical Center as Chief, Department of Neurology Since 2003: Visiting Lecturer, Chiba University School of Medicine Apr 2021: Clinical Professor, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine Nov 2023: Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter Oct 2024: Senior Director, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter 【Published】 "How to Approach and Think About Neurological Symptoms: Recommendations for General Neurology" (2nd Edition) (Igaku-Shoin) "Clinical Neurology Notes on the Spinal Cord" (Miwa Shoten) "Neurological Signs and Symptoms with Color Illustrations" (BUNKODO CO., LTD.) 【Editted】 "Neurological Semiology of the Spine and Spinal Cord for Dynamic Diagnosis" (Miwa Shoten) "Numbness" (Igaku-Shoin)

Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Tetsuo ANDO

Subspeciality
Neurology, neurological symptomatology, spinal diseases

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Nagoya University
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Member / Supervising Physician of the Japanese Society of Neurology Board Certified Member / Supervising Physician of the Japan Stroke Society Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine M.D., Ph.D. Completed the Palliative Care Training Course for Intractable Diseases
Education & Career	Mar 1983: Graduated from Nagoya University School of Medicine Apr 1983: Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital Apr 1988: Hekinan Municipal Hospital Apr 1989: Nagoya University Apr 1993: Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital Apr 2004: Anjo Kosei Hospital Apr 2021: Joined Kameda Medical Center as Chief, Department of Neurology Nov 2023: Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Deputy Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Hidehiro SHIBAYAMA

Subspeciality
Parkinson's disease and its related diseases, involuntary movement, encephalitis, sleep disorder

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	The University of Tokyo
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Member / Supervising Physician of the Japanese Society of Neurology Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine M.D., Ph.D.
Education & Career	Mar 1983: Graduated from the University of Tokyo Apr 1983: Misato Kenwa Hospital Oct 1990: M.D., Ph.D., Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Nov 1990: Misato Kenwa Hospital Nov 1994: Joined Kameda Medical Center as a physician, Department of Neurology Feb 1995: Assistant Chief, Department of Neurology Sep 2001: Deputy Chief, Department of Neurology Nov 2023: Deputy Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Deputy Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Ryoko TAKEUCHI

Subspeciality
neurology

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Gunma University
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Neurology Completed the Palliative Care Training Workshop for Physicians in Cancer Care
Education & Career	Mar 2004: Graduated from Gunma University School of Medicine Apr 2004: Junior Resident, Ohta General Hospital Foundation Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital Apr 2006: Senior Resident, Department of Neurology, Kameda Medical Center Apr 2010: Staff Physician, Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University Mar 2016: Graduated from Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Apr 2016: Joined Kameda Medical Center as Assistant Chief, Department of Neurology Apr 2019: Deputy Chief, Department of Neurology Nov 2023: Deputy Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Deputy Director (Clinical Division), Neurology

Kenji ISHIHARA

Subspeciality
Neurology

Department name

Neurology

Education & Career

"May 1995 – Clinical Resident, Department of Neurology, Showa University Hospital
November 1996 – Neurology, Kameda Medical Center
April 1998 – Neurology, Shiota General Hospital
July 1998 – Chief Physician, Neurology, Showa University Hospital
October 2001 – Neurology, Shiota General Hospital
October 2005 – Assistant/Lecturer, Neurology, Showa University Hospital
April 2009 – Part-time Researcher, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience
April 2011 – Part-time Researcher, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science
April 2012 – General Internal Medicine, Shiota General Hospital
September 2016 – Neurology, Asahi Neurology Rehabilitation Hospital (Director since July 2023)"

Assistant Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Kazue TAJIMA

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Hiroshima University
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, Fellow of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine (FJSIM) Board Certified Member / Supervising Physician of the Japanese Society of Neurology
Education & Career	Mar 2006: Graduated from Hiroshima University School of Medicine Apr 2008: Junior Resident, National Hospital Organization Higashihiroshima Medical Center Apr 2010: Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Higashihiroshima Medical Center Apr 2013: Joined Kameda Medical Center as Senior Resident, Department of Neurology Apr 2014: Staff Physician, Department of Neurology Sep 2015: Assistant Chief, Department of Neurology Nov 2023: Assistant Chief, Department of Neurology, Kameda Neurocenter

Neurology Staff Physician; Head of Anesthesiology (Department Head level); Surgical Management Director; Neurology Medical Staff

Hidehiko OKUMA

Subspeciality
Neurology; Muscular Dystrophy

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Teikyo University
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Neurologist & Instructor (Japanese Society of Neurology) Certified Internist (Japanese Society of Internal Medicine) Licensed Anesthesiology Physician
Education & Career	April 2008 – Junior Resident, Teikyo University Hospital April 2010 – Neurology Resident, Teikyo University Hospital April 2012 – Entered Graduate School of Medicine, Teikyo University March 2016 – Completed Ph.D., Teikyo University Graduate School of Medicine April 2016 – Assistant, Department of Emergency Medicine, Teikyo University Hospital October 2016 – Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa July 2018 – Postdoctoral Scholar, Howard Hughes Medical Institute October 2021– Present – Adjunct Assistant, University of Iowa (concurrent) January 2022 – Appointed Head of Anesthesiology, Kameda Medical Center April 2026 – Neurology Staff Physician; Head of Anesthesiology (Department Head level); Surgical Management Director

Staff Physician, Neurology (Kameda Brain & Nerve Center)

Miki AIKAWA

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Oita University
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Internist (Japanese Society of Internal Medicine) Medical Doctor (M.D.), Ph.D.
Education & Career	March 2020 – Graduated, Oita University School of Medicine April 2020 – Junior Resident, Kameda Medical Center Postgraduate Training Center April 2022 – Internal Medicine Resident, Neurology Department November 2023 – Neurology Resident, Kameda Brain & Nerve Center April 2025 – Staff Physician, Neurology, Kameda Brain & Nerve Center

Internal Medicine Resident, Neurology (Kameda Brain & Nerve Center)

Yoshifumi NORO

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Akita University
Education & Career	March 2023 – Graduated, Akita University School of Medicine April 2023 – Junior Resident, Kameda Medical Center Postgraduate Training Center April 2025 – Internal Medicine Resident, Neurology, Kameda Brain & Nerve Center

Internal Medicine Resident, Neurology (Kameda Brain & Nerve Center)

Tomohiro TASHIMA

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Kurume University
Education & Career	March 2023 – Graduated, Kurume University School of Medicine April 2024 – Aso Iizuka Hospital (Kagoshima) October 2025 – Neurology, Kameda Brain & Nerve Center

Specialty Resident

Yoshihito TAMAKI

Subspeciality
Internal Medicine

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	University of the Ryukyus
Education & Career	March 2023 – Graduated, University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine April 2023 – Junior Resident, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital April 2025 – Internal Medicine Resident, Teine Keijinkai Hospital April 2026 – Neurology Specialty Resident, Kameda Medical Center

Part-time physician

Shohei HARASE

Subspeciality
General neurology, acute stroke care

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	University of the Ryukyus
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Internist, Japanese Society of Internal Medicine Doctor of Medicine (PhD)
Education & Career	2008 Mar.: Graduated from the Faculty of Science, University of Washington 2016 Mar.: Graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus 2016 Apr.: Junior Resident, Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital 2018 Apr.: Senior Resident, Kameda Medical Center 2021 Jan.: Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center 2021 Jul.: Staff Physician, Department of Neurology, Kameda Medical Center 2022 Apr.: Part-time Physician, Department of Neurology, Kameda Medical Center Part-time Physician, Department of General Internal Medicine, Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital

Part-time

Masaki TOMURA

Department name	Neurology

Part-time physician

Fumi MITOBE

Department name	Neurology

Internal Medicine Resident (Specialist Trainee)

Megumi YODA

Subspeciality
General Internal Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine, Global Health

Department name	Neurology
Medical School	Hokkaido University
Education & Career	March 2023 – Graduated from Hokkaido University School of Medicine April 2023 – Junior Resident, Postgraduate Clinical Training Center, this hospital April 2025 – Internal Medicine Resident (Specialist Trainee), Department of General Internal Medicine