Hida City, Gifu Prefecture (Mayor: Junya Tsuchikura) has launched a project to provide full financial support for a large-scale clinical study of the kampo (traditional Japanese medicine) "Hachimijiogan" (Hachimi Jio Gan), aiming to inhibit the progression of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), based on a comprehensive partnership agreement with Toyama University.

Currently, clinical research on kampo is facing a crisis of stagnation due to difficulties in obtaining public funding and providing placebos (dummy drugs) from pharmaceutical companies. To break through this barrier and disseminate a "new treatment option" that is safe and affordable to the world, Hida City is utilizing "Furusato Nozei-type Crowdfunding (GCF)" to solicit donations with a target amount of 40 million yen.

First in Gifu Prefecture, a concrete measure born from a comprehensive partnership agreement with Toyama University

Hida City and Toyama University are located about 1.5 hours apart by car and have collaborated deeply in areas such as regional healthcare and medicinal herb businesses. In March 2025, they signed a comprehensive agreement on mutual cooperation and collaboration, aiming to solve regional issues stemming from population decline and to promote education and research (this is the first time Toyama University has entered into a comprehensive agreement with a municipality in Gifu Prefecture). This crowdfunding initiative is a joint project that embodies the "safe, secure, and sustainable community development" and "regional promotion utilizing Japanese and Chinese medicine, etc." outlined in this agreement.

March 2025: Signed a comprehensive agreement on cooperation and collaboration with Toyama University. Health lecture for citizens in collaboration with Toyama University.

Background and the Genesis of the Project

It is said that by 2030, Japan will have over 11 million people with dementia or in the pre-dementia stage. Early countermeasures are urgently needed, but current cutting-edge treatments have challenges such as "extremely high prices" and "risk of side effects." Therefore, Hida City decided to jointly conduct kampo research at Toyama University, taking advantage of this comprehensive agreement. Research by the university has shown that adding the common kampo medicine "Hachimijiogan," used for cold extremities and frequent urination, to standard treatment may help suppress cognitive decline in female patients.

However, clinical research on kampo struggles to attract funding from the government and corporations, and promising opportunities are currently stalled due to financial difficulties. To firmly prove the scientific evidence for safe and financially friendly kampo treatment and deliver it to the world, the city decided that this groundbreaking medical research must not be buried. Thus, they launched "Furusato Nozei-type Crowdfunding" to widely solicit donations from across the country and decided to provide full financial backing for research expenses.

Transformation Brought About by Safe and Affordable "Kampo Add-on Therapy"

This project aims not only to present research findings but also to offer concrete future "options" for the medical challenges facing Japan's super-aged society.

The greatest achievement will be the establishment of a new style of "add-on therapy" that combines kampo medicine with existing dementia treatments. As this safe and affordable treatment option, based on solid evidence, expands, it will lead to the realization of a society where patients with mild dementia and their families can continue to live healthily and true to themselves in their familiar communities (extending healthy life expectancy).

Furthermore, this research will serve as a catalyst for improving the quality of regional healthcare. By creating an environment where not only specialists but also local primary care physicians can confidently prescribe kampo medicine, the overall medical standard in Japan will improve, and it will significantly contribute to curbing the nation's escalating medical costs.

The beneficiaries of this project are not limited to current and future patients with mild dementia and their families. The results will be returned in the form of tangible hope to medical professionals nationwide (such as members of the Japan Society of Oriental Medicine) who wish for the further development of safe and effective kampo medicine, as well as all citizens who desire a secure old age.

Aiming for Evidence Publication in 2029

This project is a long-term endeavor that will take approximately three and a half years to build reliability, from patient registration to rigorous data analysis.

[May-August 2026] Securing Funds and Research Drugs (Current)

Research funds will be secured through the implementation of Furusato Nozei-type crowdfunding, and essential research drugs and placebos (dummy drugs) will be procured.

[August 2026 onwards] Start of Multi-center Clinical Trials

In collaboration with multiple medical institutions, patient registration will begin, and the follow-up observation (clinical trial) through the add-on administration of Hachimijiogan will commence in earnest.

[Until around 2029] Observation Completion, Analysis, and Global Dissemination

Observation of all cases will be completed. The vast amount of collected data will be rigorously analyzed, and scientific evidence regarding the inhibitory effect on cognitive decline will be published.

Comment from Professor Koinuma, Toyama University

Japan is entering a super-aged society, and measures against dementia and other conditions are becoming increasingly important. Kampo medicines, including Hachimijiogan, have the potential to help, but there is still insufficient scientific proof (evidence). Therefore, we want to advance clinical research through crowdfunding to clarify "whether it is truly effective and safe." Our goal is to link the results of this research to the extension of healthy life expectancy and the reduction of Japan's medical costs.

Hida City's Commitment to Support

In Japan, which is facing a super-aged society, dementia is a critical issue that affects every region. The halt of Toyama University's excellent research due to funding difficulties would be a significant loss for society as a whole.

Hida City aims to connect the goodwill of people nationwide through the Furusato Nozei system and contribute to delivering safe and affordable new medical options from this region to the world.

Overview of Furusato Nozei-type Crowdfunding

The funds raised will be entirely used for expenses to collect large-scale clinical data from 200 cases and for the production costs of essential dummy drugs (placebos) for the research.

Project Name: Advancing Clinical Research on Hachimijiogan and Disseminating New Evidence-Based Treatment Options to the World

Implementation Period: May 7, 2026 (Wed) - August 4, 2026 (Tue)

Target Amount: 40,000,000 yen

View Details

Contact Information

[Inquiries Regarding Furusato Nozei and This Project]

Hida City Hall, Furusato Support Division

Phone: 0577-62-8880

[Inquiries Regarding Research and Clinical Trial Content]

Toyama University, Department of Kampo Medicine, Koinuma Laboratory

Phone: XX-XXXX-XXXX

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: 医療研究支援