The Final Chapter of Life Can Be Transformed into a Warm Time
Yui Yasui, Director of Medical Corporation Homura, spoke at the 56th MDRT Japan Convention, delivering a lecture on how to transform the final chapter of life into a warm experience. His talk emphasized the importance of home medical care and offered concrete suggestions for interacting with loved ones during this period.
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Medical Corporation Homura (Itabashi-ku, Tokyo; Director: Yui Yasui) is pleased to announce that Director Yasui delivered a speech at the "56th MDRT Japan Convention in Hiroshima" held at Hiroshima Green Arena on Friday, April 24, 2026.
**What is the MDRT Japan Convention?**
Established in 1927, MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table) is a global, independent organization comprising top-tier life insurance and financial services professionals operating in nearly 700 companies across more than 80 countries and jurisdictions worldwide. MDRT members possess extensive professional knowledge, adhere to strict ethical codes, and provide excellent customer service. MDRT membership is internationally recognized as a testament to exceptional standards in life insurance and financial services.
The Japan Convention, held on Friday, April 24, 2026, in Hiroshima, was an opportunity for each MDRT member to re-examine "for whom and for what purpose they do this job," to learn from each other, and to share experiences. Under the convention theme of "'Aspiration' for you," approximately 5,000 MDRT members from all over Japan gathered at Hiroshima Green Arena.
**Overview of the Lecture**
Yasui, defining himself as "a doctor who creates warm stories in the final chapter of life," organized the three aspects of death—first-person (one's own death), second-person (the death of a loved one such as family or a friend), and third-person (the death of others). He then appealed to the audience, saying, "Today, together with all of you MDRT members who confront 'third-person death' through your work, I want to share the warmth of 'second-person death,' the death of a loved one."
Behind these words lies Yasui's own origin. His father's sudden death at age 17 and the "regret" that stemmed from it. Furthermore, the reality he witnessed during international medical aid in Myanmar, where death is a constant neighbor, and the concept of "seishi" (how one lives between life and death)—these experiences became the driving force behind establishing the "Yamato Clinic" in Itabashi, Tokyo, in 2013. He cited the reason for choosing home medical care as "to eliminate barriers between medical professionals and patients/families, enabling patients and their families to live as protagonists."
These personal experiences also overlap with the challenges currently facing Japanese society. In a "multi-death society" where 1.6 million people die annually—more than double the birth rate—Yasui appealed that society as a whole needs to re-evaluate how to confront death and the time leading up to it.
**To Make the Final Chapter of Life a "Good Time"**
Based on his book, "10 Things You Can Do Before Your Loved One Passes Away" (Kanki Publishing), Yasui introduced two methods to transform the final chapter into a "good time."
**1. Touch the body of your loved one**
Yasui explained that the act of "touching" reduces psychological distance and provides an opportunity to share the same perspective. Medically, research also shows that skinship contributes to pain relief. He encouraged active communication, saying, "Touching will not worsen the condition. Just place your hand anywhere."
**2. Return to the familiar home, even once**
He emphasized that the purpose is not to "die at home," but to create time to "return to oneself" by coming back to one's home, even for a short period. He stated that by leaving the hospital bed and placing oneself in familiar surroundings, patients regain control over their lives, and relationships with family also change. Yasui mentioned that 13 years ago, when he started home medical care, the percentage of people dying at home was less than 10%, but it has now increased to about 30% when including facilities, indicating that it has become a realistic option.
**What Can Be Done Because It's a Job That Confronts Death**
Towards the end of his lecture, Yasui presented two roles that MDRT members, whose work involves "third-person death," can fulfill.
**1. Gently encourage families**
When faced with illness or old age, families tend to close off their world. Life insurance professionals, as a source of consultation other than medical professionals, are in a position to give specific advice like "Why not try going home?" or "Why not try touching them?" to gently encourage families.
**2. Elicit the feelings of the individual**
In situations where a loved one passes away, the feelings of the family towards the individual are often expressed, but the feelings of the departing individual towards the family they leave behind are often not put into words.
"Is there anything you would like to convey to your family?" —
Asking this question can provide an opportunity for the individual to verbalize their feelings.
Yasui stated, "Those words can become a source of strength for the bereaved in their lives thereafter."
In a society where 1.6 million people die annually, if each of those deaths can become a warm time, a warm world where people care for one another can be created—Yasui concluded by saying that everyone involved in life insurance also has "the same potential to confront death through their work."
**What is the MDRT Japan Convention?**
Established in 1927, MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table) is a global, independent organization comprising top-tier life insurance and financial services professionals operating in nearly 700 companies across more than 80 countries and jurisdictions worldwide. MDRT members possess extensive professional knowledge, adhere to strict ethical codes, and provide excellent customer service. MDRT membership is internationally recognized as a testament to exceptional standards in life insurance and financial services.
The Japan Convention, held on Friday, April 24, 2026, in Hiroshima, was an opportunity for each MDRT member to re-examine "for whom and for what purpose they do this job," to learn from each other, and to share experiences. Under the convention theme of "'Aspiration' for you," approximately 5,000 MDRT members from all over Japan gathered at Hiroshima Green Arena.
**Overview of the Lecture**
Yasui, defining himself as "a doctor who creates warm stories in the final chapter of life," organized the three aspects of death—first-person (one's own death), second-person (the death of a loved one such as family or a friend), and third-person (the death of others). He then appealed to the audience, saying, "Today, together with all of you MDRT members who confront 'third-person death' through your work, I want to share the warmth of 'second-person death,' the death of a loved one."
Behind these words lies Yasui's own origin. His father's sudden death at age 17 and the "regret" that stemmed from it. Furthermore, the reality he witnessed during international medical aid in Myanmar, where death is a constant neighbor, and the concept of "seishi" (how one lives between life and death)—these experiences became the driving force behind establishing the "Yamato Clinic" in Itabashi, Tokyo, in 2013. He cited the reason for choosing home medical care as "to eliminate barriers between medical professionals and patients/families, enabling patients and their families to live as protagonists."
These personal experiences also overlap with the challenges currently facing Japanese society. In a "multi-death society" where 1.6 million people die annually—more than double the birth rate—Yasui appealed that society as a whole needs to re-evaluate how to confront death and the time leading up to it.
**To Make the Final Chapter of Life a "Good Time"**
Based on his book, "10 Things You Can Do Before Your Loved One Passes Away" (Kanki Publishing), Yasui introduced two methods to transform the final chapter into a "good time."
**1. Touch the body of your loved one**
Yasui explained that the act of "touching" reduces psychological distance and provides an opportunity to share the same perspective. Medically, research also shows that skinship contributes to pain relief. He encouraged active communication, saying, "Touching will not worsen the condition. Just place your hand anywhere."
**2. Return to the familiar home, even once**
He emphasized that the purpose is not to "die at home," but to create time to "return to oneself" by coming back to one's home, even for a short period. He stated that by leaving the hospital bed and placing oneself in familiar surroundings, patients regain control over their lives, and relationships with family also change. Yasui mentioned that 13 years ago, when he started home medical care, the percentage of people dying at home was less than 10%, but it has now increased to about 30% when including facilities, indicating that it has become a realistic option.
**What Can Be Done Because It's a Job That Confronts Death**
Towards the end of his lecture, Yasui presented two roles that MDRT members, whose work involves "third-person death," can fulfill.
**1. Gently encourage families**
When faced with illness or old age, families tend to close off their world. Life insurance professionals, as a source of consultation other than medical professionals, are in a position to give specific advice like "Why not try going home?" or "Why not try touching them?" to gently encourage families.
**2. Elicit the feelings of the individual**
In situations where a loved one passes away, the feelings of the family towards the individual are often expressed, but the feelings of the departing individual towards the family they leave behind are often not put into words.
"Is there anything you would like to convey to your family?" —
Asking this question can provide an opportunity for the individual to verbalize their feelings.
Yasui stated, "Those words can become a source of strength for the bereaved in their lives thereafter."
In a society where 1.6 million people die annually, if each of those deaths can become a warm time, a warm world where people care for one another can be created—Yasui concluded by saying that everyone involved in life insurance also has "the same potential to confront death through their work."