For more than a decade, Southern California has experienced tremendous growth in its multi-cultural population. Much of the growth in the Little Company of Mary service area has been attributed an Asian influx. In Torrance and its surrounding communities alone, there are more than 300 Japanese-owned businesses. In particular, Torrance is the U.S. corporate headquarters for such companies as Toyota Motor Sales, American Honda Motor Company and Nissan North America. Additionally there are many Japanese markets, video and bookstores, and restaurants specializing in Japanese cuisine. Since 1989, Little Company of Mary Hospital has provided specialized, comprehensive health care to the growing Japanese population. Services include:

• Translation assistance
• Assistance with explanations of patient treatment
• Physician referral
• Japanese Help line
• Japanese employees
• Patient menus in Japanese
• Assistance with hospital admission
• Maternity tours
• Hospital tours
• Clarification of insurance and billing procedures

For more information, please Contact Japanese Services,or call(310) 543-5944.

Literally meaning "human dock," the Ningen Dock Center was developed through an affiliation with the Noguchi Medical Research Institute of Japan - an internationally known Japanese medical firm. The Ningen Dock Center provides the same traditional, annual physical examinations to Japanese businessmen living in the United States, as are required by their companies at home.

The Ningen Dock center is led by Medical Director Fred Sakurai, M.D., and operated by a group of eight Japanese physicians. Features include:

• Comprehensive, convenient examinations in less than four hours
• A Japanese lunch
• Japanese-speaking physicians with a wide range of specialties
• A variety of examination packages
• Families are welcome
• Access to many additional medical services through Little Company of Mary, if further treatment is indicated

For more information, please Contact the Ningen Dock program, or call (310)792-6587.