interview(en)

[Mepicabari] A Bitcoin Payment-Friendly Acupuncture Clinic! Interview with the Director

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I heard there's an acupuncture clinic where you can pay with Bitcoin!

At Mepicabari, an acupuncture clinic located in Ebisu and Shibuya, you can receive acupuncture treatment and pay with Bitcoin.
The Ebisu branch opened in 2021, and they started accepting Bitcoin payments in February 2024. It has since been a popular choice among Bitcoin enthusiasts.

※Acupuncture and moxibustion involve stimulating specific pressure points in the body with fine metal needles to promote the body's natural healing ability and improve overall health. It's a treatment method rooted in traditional Eastern medicine.

This article is a summary of my conversation with Sato-san, the director of Mepicabari's Ebisu clinic.
It provides insights into a business that actively uses Bitcoin, so make sure to read until the end!

バッジャー君

You can listen to the conversation between Sato-san from Mepicabari, bcats, and the author (Minami) in the following podcast.
【bcatsさん＆メピカバリ佐藤さん】ライトニング決済についてゆるく雑談

This article was written in Japanese and converted to English using a translation tool.
Date of writing (Japanese version): October 2024

What is Mepicabari?

Image credit：メピカバリ公式サイト
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What kind of clinic is Mepicabari?

Mepicabari offers a unique approach to acupuncture, unlike anything seen before.
Mepicabari specializes in eye treatment and offers a technique that delivers noticeable results in just 15 minutes.
It was launched as an entry point for those who have never experienced acupuncture before.

According to their official website, Mepicabari is ideal for people struggling with "eye strain, difficulty focusing, dry eyes, and deep eye pain," or for those who want to boost their eye power when it counts.

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Why Mepicabari Introduced Bitcoin Payments

メピカバリ
Image credit：メピカバリ公式サイト

Sato-san：I feel that Bitcoin is cutting-edge technology that is creating a completely new world, something that has never existed before.
The patients who come to Mepicabari are people who support new forms of treatment, so I thought there would be a synergy with Bitcoin, which led to us introducing it.

Also, I thought that people involved with Bitcoin might be straining their eyes, so I believed our treatments could be helpful to them.

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I see! It does seem like they might be spending a lot of time in front of computers and smartphones.

By the way, do you get many Bitcoin enthusiasts coming in?

バッジャー君

At first, we had people visiting who were going around to places that accept Lightning payments.
Some people said, "It’s my first time trying acupuncture, but since I can pay with Lightning, I’ll give it a try," and now many of them are completely in love with acupuncture.

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Introducing Bitcoin has provided another reason for people who didn’t know about acupuncture to visit!

Challenges After Introducing Bitcoin Payments

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I heard that you introduced Lightning payments partway through running your clinic. Have there been any difficulties since then?

Surprisingly, there haven’t been many difficulties. Let’s see…

Since we provide fairly speedy treatments, if I had more time to explain it properly, I think more people would be interested in trying it out.
But I guess there’s just not enough time to give a full explanation.

However, some of our existing patients have asked, "What’s Bitcoin payment like?" so there is a bit of curiosity.

It seems like you’re not that familiar with Bitcoin yourself, is that right?

バッジャー君

Yes, I implemented it on the recommendation of bcats.

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Hearing "Lightning payments" sounds a bit complicated, but if it’s something you can introduce without knowing all the details, it might be easier to adopt than people think.

Mepicabari and the Lightning Marche

＊Both the Ebisu and Shibuya clinics now accept Bitcoin payments.

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I heard that Mepicabari also participates in the "Lightning Marche," where Bitcoin payments are accepted.

Yes, at the Lightning Marche in Jiyugaoka, I and some of my staff joined the event.

It wasn’t people coming specifically for acupuncture, but rather those visiting the Lightning Marche to use Bitcoin. Many of them decided to try acupuncture since it was available, and a lot of them were first-time acupuncture patients.

The fact that you can receive treatment in just 15 minutes makes it feel very approachable and convenient.

バッジャー君

Yes, with acupuncture, the common pattern is probably booking an appointment for a one-hour session. But what’s great about Mepicabari is that people can drop by without an appointment.
Even at the Marche, people could just stop by, and I think many thought, “It’s only 15 minutes, so why not give it a try?”

What made me happy was the tweet we received after the Marche in Jiyugaoka.
Someone tweeted that while walking through town, their child noticed and said, “Oh, it’s a Bitcoin shop!” That made me really happy.

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That’s great to hear!

Did you also have a booth at the Shibuya Lightning Marche during BitcoinTokyo?

Yes, at the Marche during BitcoinTokyo, the director of our Shibuya clinic participated.
Many customers came, including some who regularly visit the Ebisu clinic as repeat customers.

Speaking of BitcoinTokyo, the photos of the Bitcoin puppet (the Bitcoin character) were really great.

バッジャー君

It was amazing.

The puppet did a great job!
On Mepicabari’s Twitter, we sometimes post before-and-after photos, and I was surprised that the puppet actually did something similar!

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Bitcoin and Transaction Fees

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By the way, how do Bitcoin fees compare to other payment methods?

Bitcoin doesn’t have transaction fees, so it’s a great tool for businesses.

Since our clinic only accepts cashless payments, every method incurs some fees, which is something businesses have to consider.
In that sense, Bitcoin is a very accessible payment option for businesses.

I’ve heard that with payment methods like PayPay, the funds don’t get to the business right away—it might only come in once or twice a month. Lightning payments, on the other hand, are much quicker, right?

バッジャー君

Yes, it depends on the type of register, but for some companies, payments come in once or twice a month, while others may process them weekly.
This is quite important for small businesses.
Also, because fees are deducted as a percentage, and we offer treatments at relatively low prices, even a few percentage points can make a big difference.

With Lightning payments, I’ve heard the money comes in almost instantly…

バッジャー君

Yes, it’s practically instant.

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That’s amazing! So you really feel the benefits of Bitcoin in your day-to-day payments!

Yes, that’s a huge advantage for us.

Customer Reviews of Mepicabari

Here are some comments from people who have used Mepicabari’s Ebisu and Shibuya clinics, quoted from Twitter:

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Mepicabari seems really great!
It sounds like there are a lot of repeat customers, and now I feel like I want to try it, too!

In Conclusion

As a clinic where Bitcoin can be used for everyday payments, I hope Mepicabari becomes a place where people can drop by without an appointment, feel refreshed with just four needles in 15 minutes, and visit easily and casually.
I’d be happy if people unfamiliar with acupuncture would feel comfortable visiting because they can use Bitcoin. Please come by and experience acupuncture for yourself.

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Sato-san’s insights into using Lightning payments daily were fascinating!

Thank you so much, Sato-san of Mepicabari!

バッジャー君

For details such as access, please visit the official Mepicabari website.
https://mepica.net/

Twitter (X) Account
Ebisu Clinic：https://x.com/mepicabari
Shibuya Clinic：https://x.com/mepishibu

Sigeru Minami

Writer：Sigeru Minami

Creator of "Bitcoin-zukan.com."
Active as a handmade craftsman of Bitcoin goods.


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