[Sunwels Inc.] Former Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Office Director Toshihiko Atarashi Appointed as Outside Director
Key facts
- [Sunwels Inc.] Former Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Office Director Toshihiko Atarashi Appointed as Outside Director
- Sunwels Inc., operator of Parkinson's disease specialized facilities, announced the appointment of Toshihiko Atarashi, former MHLW official, as Outside Director to enhance corporate governance.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: March 31, 2026
Direct answer
Sunwels Inc., operator of Parkinson's disease specialized facilities, announced the appointment of Toshihiko Atarashi, former MHLW official, as Outside Director to enhance corporate governance.
- Citation
- [Sunwels Inc.] Former Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Office Director Toshihiko Atarashi Appointed as Outside Director (March 31, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- March 31, 2026
Sunwels Inc., operator of Parkinson's disease specialized facilities, announced the appointment of Toshihiko Atarashi, former MHLW official, as Outside Director to enhance corporate governance.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 23:21
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 01:06 (1h 44m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 08:58 (511h 52m after Collected)
Sunwels Inc. (Headquarters: Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, CEO: Ryotatsu Nawashiro, hereinafter "the Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Toshihiko Atarashi has assumed the position of Outside Director.
### Background of the Appointment
The Company has welcomed Mr. Toshihiko Atarashi as an Outside Director for the purpose of further enhancing management transparency and corporate governance. Through his wide-ranging administrative experience primarily at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as well as local governments, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Cabinet Office, Mr. Atarashi possesses extensive knowledge and achievements in the nursing care and medical fields, enabling him to execute his duties from an objective and independent standpoint. With this appointment, we aim to further improve corporate value and realize sustainability.
**[Profile of Toshihiko Atarashi]**
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1968.
After passing the National Public Service Type I Examination (Law), he graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University in 1992 and joined the Ministry of Health and Welfare (currently the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).
He has been broadly engaged in policy planning, parliamentary response, licensing, supervisory administration, and legal practices at central ministries and local public entities. As Director of the Aging Policy Division of Kyoto Prefecture, he has experience familiar with both systems and fieldwork, being involved in the operation of the nursing care insurance system and the guidance and supervision of nursing care providers.
Subsequently, he deepened his expertise in the fields of systems, legal affairs, administrative management, and governance by serving successively as Planning Division Director of GPIF, Counselor at the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, Office Director at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and General Affairs Division Director at the Food Safety Commission Secretariat of the Cabinet Office.
Retired from public service in March 2022. Established Kuranos Inc. in April of the same year and assumed the position of Representative Director. Appointed as Outside Director of Sunwels Inc. in November 2025. Registered as an attorney in March 2026.
### Comments from Toshihiko Atarashi
I am honored to have been appointed as an Outside Director of Sunwels Inc.
I accepted this position because I felt that the Company's PD House is an enterprise of immense social significance for those facing Parkinson's disease and their families.
The treatment of Parkinson's disease requires multifaceted and highly specialized support, including responding to the progression of symptoms, daily medication management, continuous rehabilitation, and coordination with specialized medical care. I feel a strong sense of mission and future potential in the initiatives of PD House, which squarely addresses these challenges and realizes highly specialized care as a tangible form.
Before my appointment, I mainly looked at the nursing home and visiting nursing industries from the perspective of related systems and organizational management. However, after actually visiting the front lines of PD House, the impression I received after my appointment changed significantly in a positive way. What impressed me most was that the users spend their days calmly and positively, and that the staff support their lives with high expertise and sincerity.
Rooted in the field was a sincere attitude to support the dignified lives of those facing illness, going beyond the framework of a mere nursing facility or visiting nursing provider. I realize that the trust placed by users and their families is born from the accumulation of careful daily care, and that behind this is the effort and dedication of frontline staff, and the accumulation of expertise as an organization.
I believe that Sunwels has a sufficient foundation to be further trusted and grow. Moving forward, as an Outside Director, I will support the establishment of highly transparent management and sound governance.
### Background of the Appointment
The Company has welcomed Mr. Toshihiko Atarashi as an Outside Director for the purpose of further enhancing management transparency and corporate governance. Through his wide-ranging administrative experience primarily at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as well as local governments, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Cabinet Office, Mr. Atarashi possesses extensive knowledge and achievements in the nursing care and medical fields, enabling him to execute his duties from an objective and independent standpoint. With this appointment, we aim to further improve corporate value and realize sustainability.
**[Profile of Toshihiko Atarashi]**
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1968.
After passing the National Public Service Type I Examination (Law), he graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University in 1992 and joined the Ministry of Health and Welfare (currently the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).
He has been broadly engaged in policy planning, parliamentary response, licensing, supervisory administration, and legal practices at central ministries and local public entities. As Director of the Aging Policy Division of Kyoto Prefecture, he has experience familiar with both systems and fieldwork, being involved in the operation of the nursing care insurance system and the guidance and supervision of nursing care providers.
Subsequently, he deepened his expertise in the fields of systems, legal affairs, administrative management, and governance by serving successively as Planning Division Director of GPIF, Counselor at the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, Office Director at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and General Affairs Division Director at the Food Safety Commission Secretariat of the Cabinet Office.
Retired from public service in March 2022. Established Kuranos Inc. in April of the same year and assumed the position of Representative Director. Appointed as Outside Director of Sunwels Inc. in November 2025. Registered as an attorney in March 2026.
### Comments from Toshihiko Atarashi
I am honored to have been appointed as an Outside Director of Sunwels Inc.
I accepted this position because I felt that the Company's PD House is an enterprise of immense social significance for those facing Parkinson's disease and their families.
The treatment of Parkinson's disease requires multifaceted and highly specialized support, including responding to the progression of symptoms, daily medication management, continuous rehabilitation, and coordination with specialized medical care. I feel a strong sense of mission and future potential in the initiatives of PD House, which squarely addresses these challenges and realizes highly specialized care as a tangible form.
Before my appointment, I mainly looked at the nursing home and visiting nursing industries from the perspective of related systems and organizational management. However, after actually visiting the front lines of PD House, the impression I received after my appointment changed significantly in a positive way. What impressed me most was that the users spend their days calmly and positively, and that the staff support their lives with high expertise and sincerity.
Rooted in the field was a sincere attitude to support the dignified lives of those facing illness, going beyond the framework of a mere nursing facility or visiting nursing provider. I realize that the trust placed by users and their families is born from the accumulation of careful daily care, and that behind this is the effort and dedication of frontline staff, and the accumulation of expertise as an organization.
I believe that Sunwels has a sufficient foundation to be further trusted and grow. Moving forward, as an Outside Director, I will support the establishment of highly transparent management and sound governance.
FAQ
What kind of person is Shun Tani, the new external director of Sunwells?
He is a person who has held positions such as Director of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Section Chief of the Cabinet Office, and is well-versed in systems, legal affairs, and administrative operations.
What is Sunwells' main business, 'PD House'?
It is a specialized care facility that provides rehabilitation and coordination with specialist medical care for people living with Parkinson's disease.
Why did Sunwells appoint Shun Tani as an external director?
To enhance the transparency of management and strengthen corporate governance, thereby improving corporate value.