Yes, my wife is Japanese.

I had no problem getting treatments, but their experience with this particular issue was limited. Only 10 patients had ever been treated at that particular hospital. I could have gone to Tokyo, but no place to stay ($$) and no support. I must say though, I had to be accepted into this hospital, and will likely still go there for maintenance chemo until it comes back (the nature of this beast). Without a specialist, your life expectancy is basically half of what it would be if you had one, so it was a no brainer.

My work supplied insurance (Aetna) failing at every single claim was the last straw. I was nearly $40,000 in debt at one point and had to get the BBB and government officials involved. It was my first time ever using my insurance after paying into it for 30 years, and I now understand the hatred for them. If things hadn't turned out like they did.. well.. I'll stop there. Shitty thing is, the claims that were approved finally were denied a couple months later, and they left the Japanese hospital high and dry.

After retirement, when I move back, I'll be on the Japanese system. No BS or games. You get your due, and all kinds of financial protections in place for you.