SOKUYAKU, an Online Medical Consultation and Medication Delivery Service, Sees 250% Year-on-Year User Growth: Smartphone-Complete Healthcare Without Leaving Home Amid Health Issues from Atmospheric Pressure Changes and Heavy Rain Risks

J-Frontier Corporation (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Atsuhiko Nakamura), which operates online medical services, runs 'SOKUYAKU,' a service that integrates online medical consultations, medication guidance, and prescription drug delivery.

The service, which enables users to access medical care anytime and anywhere without leaving home, is experiencing rapid growth, with the number of users increasing 2.5 times compared to the same period last year.

In 2026, meteorological agencies are forecasting 'average to above-average rainfall,' heightening nationwide vigilance against sudden downpours and heavy rain disasters. Additionally, seasonal health issues known as 'plum rain fatigue'—caused by changes in atmospheric pressure and humidity—are on the rise, leading to increased reservations for online medical services that allow consultations, medication guidance, and prescription collection without going outside.

【2026 Plum Rain Season: Nationwide Trend Toward Heavy Rainfall】

According to Weather News' 2026 plum rain outlook, total rainfall in regions from southern Kyushu to northern Tohoku is expected to be 'average or higher,' with warnings for heavy rain and sudden downpours from early June to mid-July.

Furthermore, the Japan Meteorological Agency reports that the number of short-duration heavy rain events with over 50mm of rainfall per hour has increased by approximately 1.5 times compared to about 40 years ago, indicating a yearly rise in 'sudden heavy rains.'

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency 'Frequency of Heavy Rain and Short-Duration Downpours' https://www.jma.go.jp/

Additionally, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' 'Survey on Trends in Telecommunications Usage (2025 estimate),' smartphone ownership exceeds 92%, with online service access environments now widely established across Japan. In the healthcare sector, the number of people receiving medical care at home has expanded since the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare made online consultations permanent.

Moreover, attention is growing toward seasonal discomforts known as 'plum rain fatigue.' Caused by autonomic nervous system disruptions due to low pressure and high humidity, and reduced serotonin levels from decreased daylight, this period sees an increase in people reporting headaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.

【Online Consultation Users Increase 2.5x Year-on-Year】

J-Frontier's 'SOKUYAKU' has seen a 2.5x year-on-year increase in users of online consultations. Usage is particularly expanding among:

- Elderly households - Dual-income families - Residents in rural areas - Individuals with mobility challenges

Currently, SOKUYAKU features:

- Partnered medical institutions: over 4,100 facilities - Participating pharmacies and drugstores: over 20,000 stores - Population coverage rate: approximately 91%

making it accessible not only in urban areas but also in rural and depopulated regions.

User feedback includes:

'It was reassuring to receive a consultation even on days of heavy rain.' 'I didn’t have to go out with my children.' 'I was able to receive medication even at night, which helped a lot.' 'I feel secure knowing I can access medical care during disasters.'

Moreover, the medical resilience infrastructure utilizing 'SOKUYAKU,' which enables continuous medical service delivery not only during normal times but also during disasters and emergencies, received the Grand Prize at the 'Japan Resilience Award (Kyojinka Taisho) 2026,' held in April 2026.

What is 'SOKUYAKU'?

'SOKUYAKU' is an online medical service that allows users to complete consultations, medication guidance, and medication collection from home or the workplace using smartphones or tablets.

After an online consultation with a physician, patients receive online medication guidance from a pharmacist, followed by home delivery of prescribed medication or pickup at a nearby pharmacy. Same-day medication collection is also supported.

Additionally, the service offers features such as appointment management, digital questionnaires, and online payment for medical institutions, enabling easy implementation without additional equipment investment.

Furthermore, during disasters or infectious disease outbreaks, SOKUYAKU is increasingly used as a 'phase-free medical infrastructure' functioning as an alternative medical channel. Its ability to directly repurpose the regular online consultation platform for emergencies helps maintain medical access and continue prescription deliveries.

【Future Developments】

Recently, demand for 'location-independent healthcare' is expanding due to increasing heavy rain disasters from climate change, a growing number of elderly individuals with difficulty visiting clinics, and healthcare worker shortages. Private surveys predict that Japan’s online medical consultation market will grow to about twice its 2025 size by 2030.

In this context, building a 'medical system that never stops, even during disasters' has become a key priority for municipalities and medical institutions, increasing attention toward 'decentralized medical infrastructure' combining online consultations and pharmaceutical delivery.

Moving forward, the company will strengthen collaboration with municipalities and medical institutions and promote the development of online medical systems tailored to regional healthcare challenges, aiming to build a seamless medical access environment that functions continuously from normal to emergency situations.

【Building the SOKUYAKU Healthcare Economy】

J-Frontier Corporation aims to create a 'SOKUYAKU Healthcare Economy' where all healthcare cycle actions—from personalized product recommendations to medical consultations—can be completed within the 'SOKUYAKU' platform. This is achieved by integrating member data from SOKUYAKU and its D2C pharmaceutical sales, along with data from electronic prescriptions, electronic medical records, and digital medication notebooks in healthcare information systems.

Company Overview

Company Name: J-Frontier Corporation (Tokyo Growth Exchange; Stock Code: 2934)

Established: June 2008

Representative: President and CEO Atsuhiko Nakamura

Headquarters: 4F, KN Shibuya 3, 9-8 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031

Capital: 6.65 billion yen (as of February 2026)

URL: https://jfrontier.jp/

SOKUYAKU Service Overview

App Name: SOKUYAKU

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/sokuyaku/id1550447276

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.customer.sokuyaku

Pricing: Free registration and annual fee; 'SOKUYAKU Premium' plan at 550 yen/month (tax included)

URL: https://sokuyaku.jp/

Category: Medical / Healthcare