Shigeaki Hinohara, honorary head of St Luke’s International Hospital, died aged 105 on July 18th. Hinohara studied medicine at Kyoto Imperial University and began working at St. Luke’s in Tokyo in 1941. During World War II, he treated many people injured by the air raids there. Hinohara was well known for his significant contribution to healthcare in Japan. He had long advocated the importance of preventive medicine and introduced the comprehensive check-ups called “ningen dock.” Following the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, he led a medical team that saved many victims’ lives. Hinohara always encouraged senior citizens to maintain an active social life and avoid illness by having fun. He himself continued seeing patients until after he turned 100.