Century Medical, Inc. (head office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Toshihiko Fujioka) has established a representative office in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, effective October 20, 2025. The Suzhou Representative Office (Chinese: 日本世纪医疗株式会社 苏州代表处; hereinafter, the “Suzhou Representative Office”) will focus on medical device market research, local liaison and partnership development with medical device manufacturers, and coordination of regulatory submissions and logistics support for medical devices. In addition, Century Medical will further accelerate and expand both support for Chinese manufacturers in medical device development and commercialization (market research, regulatory filings, logistics) and the sale of Chinese-made medical devices in Japan.
In recent years, Chinese products have substantially advanced in both technology and quality, while maintaining strong price competitiveness. Within China, intensified price competition driven by centralized procurement has rapidly changed the market environment, leading more manufacturers to pursue overseas markets. The Japanese market, in particular, has seen a rapid increase in Chinese manufacturers aiming for entry because, despite high regulatory hurdles, approvals in Japan are directly linked to global recognition and the market size is substantial. Moreover, Chinese companies have increased their presence in overseas product registrations: the number of companies obtaining registrations in key countries (the United States, Australia, and Canada) rose from 1,656 in 2019 to 2,556 in 2023. [1]
Against this backdrop, Century Medical has established its representative office in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province—one of the core cities in the Yangtze River Delta, a leading economic region that includes Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. The region features a high density of medical device-related supply chains within China, and is home to a large concentration of medical device manufacturers.[2] Since being designated a National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in 1992, Suzhou has become a major cluster for advanced industries, including electronics and communications, precision machinery, fine chemicals, biotech, new energy, and healthcare. The medical sector continues to experience strong growth, and the city is recognized as one of the country’s largest hubs in medical devices and biomedicine. Suzhou also enjoys excellent access to major cities such as Shanghai, offering advantages in both business and logistics.
Leveraging the region’s strengths in industrial and research foundations, supply chains, and accessibility, Century Medical will deepen collaboration with local companies. By ensuring reliable quality, regulatory compliance, and stable supply, the company will provide consulting in regulatory affairs, development, and mass production to support entry into the Japanese market, while also expanding its handling of Chinese-made products. Through these initiatives, Century Medical aims to create new growth opportunities in both the Chinese and Japanese markets and contribute to the advancement of healthcare.
Sources
- [1] China Medical Device Blue Book 2023 (Healthcare Sector Edition), Chart 32 / Page 22/45 (Trend in the total number of companies obtaining overseas product registrations—United States, Australia, and Canada)
- [2] Ibid., Chart 20 / Page 15/45 (Number of medical device manufacturers by province—Jiangsu Province: approx. 4,814 companies)
About Century Medical, Inc.
Century Medical, Inc., a specialized medical device trading company and a member of the ITOCHU Group, has utilized the Group’s international information network to import cutting-edge medical devices from advanced countries, primarily the United States, and provide them to healthcare settings in Japan. As the aging society drives increasing demand for medical devices, we remain committed to our corporate philosophy of “Supporting Health and Prosperity,” contributing to society as a trusted partner in healthcare.
- Company name: Century Medical, Inc. (Chinese name: 日本世纪医疗株式会社)
- Head office: 1-11-2 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8588, Japan
- President & CEO: Toshihiko Fujioka
- Established: April 1, 1974
- URL: https://www.cmi.co.jp
- Business: Development, import, and sales of medical devices for diagnostic and therapeutic use
Office Profile (Suzhou Representative Office)
- Name: 日本世纪医疗株式会社 苏州代表处 (Century Medical Suzhou Representative Office)
- Address (English): Room B-211-1, 2nd Floor, Integrated Circuit Innovation Center, No. 78 Jinshan East Road, Shishan Street, Huqiu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
- Address (Chinese): 江苏省苏州市虎丘区狮山街道金山东路78号 集成电路创新中心2楼B-211-1室
- Established: October 20, 2025
Media Contact
- Century Medical, Inc., Marketing Headquarters, Business Development Team
- Tel: +81-3-3491-1131
- Email: Business_Development_Team@cmi.co.jp
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially due to various factors, including market conditions, regulatory changes, and operational considerations.