Japan’s ‘first visit date’ rule shows gaps in disability pension system

By Barrier Free Japan

February 13 2026

TOKYO – A Tokyo man in his 50s who was forced to quit his IT job after developing Parkinson’s disease faced difficulties obtaining Japan’s disability pension due to the system’s requirement to prove the date of first medical consultation, highlighting structural hurdles for applicants. Kenichi Sato (pseudonym), 54, was told he needed to verify an initial clinic visit from about 20 years ago, but records had been discarded under the legal five-year retention rule for medical charts.

When Sato contacted the clinic, he received a surprising response:

“The legal retention period for medical records is five years. Records from 20 years ago no longer remain.”

Although the health ministry allows alternative evidence such as medication records or third-party testimony, the burden of proof remains high. Sato ultimately secured benefits after submitting later medical records and supporting statements, with authorities formally recognizing his first consultation date two decades earlier.

Under Article 24 of the Medical Practitioners Act, medical records must in principle be kept for five years. If institutions dispose of records in compliance with the law, proving treatment details from decades earlier becomes realistically difficult.

Sato searched for materials from that time but found no valid evidence.

“It’s a fact that I can barely move my body now, yet I was told it would be difficult to receive benefits if I couldn’t prove the past. My mind went blank.”

Despite lacking original records, Sato compiled later medical records, his physician’s written opinion, and testimony from family and colleagues. As a result, his first consultation date was formally recognized as 20 years earlier, and he was successfully approved for disability pension.