Itochu subsidiary takes over SunMed Group's Japan sales operations as U.S. medical equipment company faces profitability challenges

Itochu's unit Century Medical will assume sales, delivery, inventory management and logistics for SunMed products including closed suction catheters in Japan. The transaction involves no capital movement and is expected to be completed as soon as early July.

SunMed, a Michigan-based company that has operated in Japan under the brand AirLife since a 2023 rebrand, has struggled to remain profitable in the country due to the weak yen and inflationary pressure.

The move reflects Japanese trading houses positioning healthcare as a core business pillar. Mitsui & Co. is the largest shareholder in IHH Healthcare, which operates hospitals across Asia, while Mitsubishi acquired a minority stake in Singapore-based Fullerton Health in 2025. Around 80% of public healthcare institutions reported losses in fiscal 2024.