2025年10月7日

アニコム損害保険株式会社

Anicom Advanced Medical Research Institute, Inc. (President: Ryo Horie), a group company of Anicom Insurance, Inc. (President: Shingo Noda), the leading provider of pet insurance in Japan (※1), hosted a media preview event on Saturday, October 4, for its newly opened JARVIS Animal Medical Center Tokyo, an advanced secondary referral hospital, which officially opened on October 1, 2025.
（※１）Based on the number of contracts in 2024, according to Fuji Keizai’s “2025 Pet Market Overview.”

The new center delivers cutting-edge care—including robot-assisted surgery—and drew a strong media response at the launch. The day included a guided tour of the facilities, presentations by key members of the Anicom Group, and a panel discussion on current trends and challenges in veterinary medicine.

Facility Tour

Staff members guided guests through the newly opened hospital, highlighting the latest diagnostic technologies and the robot-assisted surgical system. The transparent glass-walled operating rooms and rehab spaces provide a clear view of the procedures performed at JARVIS and were designed to ensure both animal welfare and owner peace of mind.

Strategic Vision from Group CEO Nobuaki Komori

Anicom Holdings CEO Nobuaki Komori opened the event with remarks on the strategic background behind the launch of the JARVIS center:

“For small animals, surgery requires an exceptional level of precision and care. But if that care comes at a high cost, it cannot provide true peace of mind for pet families. That is why we believe delivering high-quality, minimally invasive surgery at an accessible price is essential.”

“With support from Riverfield Inc. and their surgical assist robot, Saroa, working in harmony with AI and insurance, we aim to lead the world in both human and animal healthcare.”

Joint Announcement with Riverfield Inc.

JARVIS Animal Medical Center Tokyo is the first veterinary facility in the world (※2) to adopt a surgical assist robot with haptic (force-feedback) technology.

The robot in use, Saroa, has been developed by Riverfield Inc. and is already approved for use in human medical procedures by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (※3).

Mr. Kotaro Tadano, President and CEO of Riverfield Inc., also spoke at the event, stating:

“Our goal was to create a gentle, precise surgical assist robot that could replicate a surgeon’s sense of touch. With our proprietary pneumatic actuation technology, we’ve developed the world’s first haptic feedback surgical robot. We will continue working with partners like Anicom Group to expand automation and make efficient, compassionate healthcare possible for both humans and animals.”
（※２）As of February 2025, according to Anicom Insurance research.
（※３）”Saroa” is an approved medical device for human use but has not received approval for veterinary use by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). After undergoing ethical review by the Anicom Advanced Medical Research Institute, the treatment is positioned as an off-label use and implemented based on the professional discretion of veterinarians.

Panel Discussion : Challenges Facing Veterinary Medicine

The second half of the event featured a discussion led by Anicom Advanced Medical Research Institute President Ryo Horie and CMO (Chief Medical Officer) and veterinarian Dr. Katsutoshi Tamura.Topics included the lack of digitalization in veterinary care, staff shortages, and regional disparities in medical access.

Mr. Horie noted:

“Veterinary medical operations differ from clinic to clinic, and many still rely heavily on manual processes. Surgery in particular is often a one-of-a-kind case, making standardization difficult.
But this is where AI and robotics can make a real difference. Remote diagnosis and surgery could also help eliminate regional gaps in care.”

Dr. Tamura explained the usefulness of introducing surgical-assist robots in veterinary practice.

“When working on-site, we often encounter situations where the animal patient is curled up in pain after surgery, enduring it all alone. In the world of veterinary medicine, painful surgeries were, unfortunately, considered inevitable until now. Since we started using surgical-assist robots, veterinary surgery has become completely different. Procedures such as large incisions or bone cuts, which were previously necessary to allow the surgeon to access the surgical field, are now basically unnecessary. I believe that the significant reduction in pain and distress is as important to animal patients as it is to human patients.”

At this preview event, the demonstration of cutting-edge veterinary medical technology and its practical applications served as a valuable opportunity to convey the future of veterinary medicine to a wider audience.

About JARVIS Animal Medical Center Tokyo

JARVIS Animal Medical Center Tokyo is an animal hospital that provides care across a wide range of medical fields.

・Cardiology

・Respiratory medicine

・Gastroenterology

・Soft-tissue

・Orthopedics

・Neurology

・Urology

・Dentistry and oral surgery

・General medicine

In addition, the center includes a research laboratory equipped with advanced diagnostic instruments. Actively engaging in various research and development initiatives that contribute to the advancement of veterinary medicine, the facility aims to establish a comprehensive veterinary care system—from prevention and early detection to specialized treatment—providing the most appropriate medical care for each individual animal.
To provide “transparency” and build trust with pet owners, the operating rooms are glass-walled and viewable to the public.
https://jarvis.anicom-med.co.jp/

■ Reference (Japanese only) :
Strategy for Enhancing Profitability in the Insurance Business – Achieving the Optimal Balance Between Insurance, Customers, and Clinics