Sumi K Kawaratani, MD

It’s rare to see a doctor with such glowing reviews. And so for a long time — as I lived down the street — I tried to get an appointment with the revered Dr. Kawaratani. I waited for many, many months. And dealt with the attitude of the person answering the phone, which should have acted as a warning to me.
To be quite frank, this was to be the second worst experience I’ve had with a doctor in California. The first being another physician In Little Tokyo who diagnosed me with a fatal disease (by accident).
I came to Dr. Kawaratani for a physical. I found her to be rude, abrupt, cynical, condescending, verbally invasive and generally annoyed with my existence.
She reprimanded me more than once for things that were quite standard for a man’s life, in a way that made me feel like it was an inquisition. Ask a question and I’ll answer honestly, but who the hell are you to sit there and judge me???
In addition, even though there was little to no actual physical exam — no blood test, no checking my body for anything other than weight and basic health really, she had me sit there on her examination table for 45 minutes in that bloody napkin.
Yah…like basically naked (freezing my butt off) with a little piece of material to cover me, and then she had the audacity to comment that «I didn’t look very comfortable».
Yah hon, I’m not comfortable sitting here wearing a napkin while you tell me off for my sex life or alcohol or smoking 10 cigarettes a year. It was like an inquisition. With her typing away on that laptop from 1983. And no offense, but our Doctor here doesn’t exactly look like the picture of Olympian health. Perhaps she needs to take some of her own medicine.
At one point — and this is the absolute truth — she asked me a question (political?) that she didn’t like the answer to, and she told me that I «reminded her of her husband». I mean — really — is that a normal comment to make to a new patient? Or to anyone for that matter.
Never had an experience like this before but my strong suggestion is head over to the west side for your medical expertise. Seems like Little Tokyo is a little off in this area.
P. S. Notice another 1-​star review has to do with a MAN getting sick and there being a problem with the Doctor getting annoyed. Interesting.

They don’t take new patient.
don’t call to waste of your time

Forget the «doctor» part (which would be rated TEN stars), «Dr. K» is the most amazing person anyone could have the honor and pleasure of knowing. My wife, son and I have been under the care of Dr. K for over 20 years. She is the finest GP on the planet, but she is an even better person!
In 2008, I had a very serious auto accident that required multiple surgeries, a rotating herd of highly-​skilled surgeons, neourologists, specialists in a number of fields. However, through the entire ordeal, Dr. K was the only doctor I really trusted to tell me what I needed to hear, what I had to hear in order to survive and return to a real life, care for my family.
Beginning in early 2014, we had the honor of observing Dr. K minister to a dear friend of ours who had terminal cancer. During the course of an 18-​month period, we saw the most amazing actions we have ever witnessed by any physician, anywhere, anytime. Ever heard of a doctor who shows up on your doorstep, unannounced, just to check in, bring good cheer, provide much needed-​comfort… ON CHRISTMAS DAY?!
Dr. K is the most caring, compassionate and dedicated individual we know. The same person who can simply «tell it like it is,» mince no words when delivering the bad news, the tough stuff, also possesses what can best be described as a VERY LARGE HEART. She is so very special, as both a physician and a human being.
We are blessed to have her in our lives.

I’m really glad I found a local doctor that I actually trust. After a few tries with some other doctors in the downtown area who I was not super pleased with, Dr. Kawaratani has definitely been my favorite. She is very thorough and takes her time doing a physical exam, rather than pushing it off to a nurse or rushing through. She also keeps up to date on whatever the latest recommendations for necessary tests are at the time. I’m also glad that she is a general practitioner, so no matter what an issue is I know I can call up her office. Sometimes it can be tough to get an appointment for a regular physical, but knowing this I just make sure to make it at least a month in advance. Would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a general practitioner in the downtown area.

EXCELLENT. As soon Dr. Kawaratani walked in to see me about 3 minutes after I dressed into the gown, she apologized for being late (what the heck? I hadn’t even noticed!) Her constant comforting smiles, gentle manner, appropriate humor, ways of detail explaining. have impressed me. I’ve never seen such character from a doctor. I immediately felt so much respect for her, comfort, and courage. Her along all her staff are extremely attentive to time and sensitive to suit your needs and make the most out of the 45 minutes of service you have with the doctor (Before, during, and after your visit)
I’ve been having extremely bad facial eczema for the past 4.5 years, and although dermatology isn’t Dr. Kawaratani’s specialty, she was incredibly helpful with plenty of general good advice for my upcoming Europe trip. (don’t wear your body off before your flight so the germs from all the other passengers won’t trigger my allergies and symptoms even worse)…
this was also my first time getting a PAP smear test. I was absolutely horrified as Kawaratani patiently and carefully explained to me the process of what was going «down there» with plastic models… yet her smile, humor, and gentleness was so comforting, and helped me persevere the pain. (If I were to have a baby, she’d be my #1 person to be here. not my husband. HER)
I left, incredibly happy and motivated to move on with my life.
PARKING TIPS: Eiter street/​meter or the parking structure. They help validate by knocking off $ 2 or $ 2.50 off the $ 10ish parking… and the street parking I found on 3^rd street is 1.50 per hour, with a max 2 hours. Now, that’s the tough issue because I barely made it out within the 2 hours, so make sure you park at the right time and if you can’t have someone add more minutes to the meter, you bettter run your ass to avoid that parking violation.

Dr Kawaratani was awesome during our physicial exams but when my husband actually got really sick she just got ruder everytime we saw her. She made us feel like we were a burden. We felt so uncomfortable that we just ended up going to the emergency room after wasting our money and time seeing her several times. Also while we were seeing her they were switching to a new billing system and they billed our insurance incorrectly multiple times. I tried resolving it several times with the billing office and said they were going to figure it out with our insurance but they kept billing us. Anyways i just ended up paying them so i dont have to deal with this office anymore.

Dr. Kawaratani is just such a GREAT doctor!
She takes my concerns (all 1,784 of them) seriously, she attentively listens, she thoroughly explains things to me, and on top of all that, she makes my visit a stress-​free one with her humor:) I could’nt ask for a better doctor. I am so pleased with her!

very bad phone customer service. I was in severe pain at that time and needed an advice from them very badly… the lady who i was talking to didin’t care and couldn’t wait to hang up the phone. in fact she did hang up on me while i was still talking. i will never even try to go there.

I’ve never met a better physician than Dr, Kawaratani.
I met her several years ago when I went to an appointment with my grandmother. She took so much time with her talking with her about her condition, explaining the different modalities they could use to treat her, not to mention speaking with her in her first language, Japanese, I quickly made her my primary care physician!
Then I insisted that my mother go to her.
My Mom was diagnosed with COPD and emphysema. Dr. Kawaratani was our medical conductor. With so much grace, she orchestrated my mother’s team of doctors in a way that still leaves me in awe.
Dr Kawaratani is a true physician who deeply cares for her patients.
My entire family feels so indebted to her for her hard work and caring of both our mother and grandmother.
I really can’t say enough about this wonderful person!

Dr. Kawaratani is extremely knowledgeable and you never feel «rushed» or «hearded». She takes her time with you to ensure all questions are answered. It’s refreshing to find a doctor in such a large city that cares more about healing than dollars.

I was reading the other reviews and I agree with everything everyone else has said but I want make sure that it was clear that along with being a patient, caring, hardworking and attentive doctor, she KNOWS MEDICINE.
Dr. Kawaratani is the most knowledgeable physician I have met. I am a technical minded individual and aside from easing my mind, she can explain exactly why a condition has the symptoms it does, what organs and tissues might be involved and explain it in a way I can understand.
She also seems to stay very current on conditions and treatments and won’t give you something if you don’t need it.
This shows me that she doesn’t consider a visit from a pharmaceutical rep to be continuing education.
I do have to note that though she takes her work seriously, she is very sweet, and if you pay close attention, has a great sense of humor.

Isn’t it funny how the best things in life you tend to find by RANDOM chance… and I’m not talking about falling in love or finding the perfect pair of boots on sale.
I’m talkin’ about my primary care physician: Dr. Kawaratani. She was listed as one of my «providers» who was located close enough to my former workplace out in Hollywood … and because she was «on my way home from work», the laziness inside of me talked me into taking a gamble. It has been over 5 years since that fateful day… and I STILL trust her with all my healthcare needs. Trust me, there is a REASON I drive the 40+ miles out from the O.C. and sit in back-​to-​back traffic on the 110 fwy for over an hour to see this woman every year.
If you REALLY knew me, you’d know it takes a LOT to put up with my random bouts of paranoid hypochondria, panic attacks, and at times… non-​compliance with medical advice. You know how people say health care professionals make the WORST patients? Okay, I admit it… I’m a TOTAL statistic. Guilty as charged.
But that’s what I love about Dr. Kawaratani. No matter HOW many stupid and anal questions I have (all written down over the course of a few months leading up to my appointments, of course) or regardless of HOW convinced I am that I’m about to DIE tragically from cancer or suffer from infertility… she has this reassuring way of calming your ass down and making you feel like nothing bad is going to happen… ALL without making you feel like a complete idiot.
Dr. Kawaratani is just the most professional, «straight to the point», and CARING doctor I’ve EVER come across… and I work with doctors EVERY DAY. She never makes you feel rushed to leave her office and always returns your calls that same day. Basically, she’s what a doctor SHOULD be, plus a bag of chips. (Don’t hate, y’all know you love that phrase too, lol).
And lastly… a note to the ladies out there who for ONE DAY out of the year (like me) DREAD being violated for preventive health-​related exams, Dr. Kawaratani is VERY gentle and is the ONLY doctor I would ever allow to go anywhere near my «cooch». Yeah, I just said that. Wha? Wha? :) No, seriously… Dr. Kawaratani is the BEST. Bless her heart for putting up with a patient like me.

There are many reasons to love Dr. Kawaratani.
1. Listens to you carefully and believes what you say.
2. Does not over medicate.
3. Very Practical.
4. Kind.
5. Concerned.
6. Thinks about you long after you have left the office and calls you if she says she will look into something.
7. If you need her, she makes room for you no matter what.
8. Sense of humor.
9. Very knowledgeable.
The only downside is getting through crazy downtown to get to her in traffic and the parking is $ 6.50 with validation… but for me, having a «family» style doctor makes it worth it and then some. Her staff is great, too!

Dr. Kawaratani is great!

One evening after an appointment with Dr. Kawaratani, MD, I received a call from a number I did not recognize on my cell phone. It was Dr. Kawaratani with the answer to my question earlier that day. I really almost fell out of my chair.
She is the only physician who has ever done a domestic violence assessment with me and I’ve gone to MANY physicians as an adult. As someone in the social services field, this is something that should be common practice.
Her staff fits me in when I have an emergency, like an insect bite. (I swell up like a balloon). She is also mindful about what immunizations I need to be current on and also reminds me to call her before I travel so I can get recommended shots as well.
I recommend my friends to her. One of my best friends was pleased that she didn’t make an assumption that he was straight (although he is straight). She talks to you about safer sex. (I had a doctor years ago who could only use the term «relations»). In her office, there’s also a picture of the twins she delivered.
Dr. Kawaratani and her staff are bilingual in English and Japanese. I notice that some folks bring in their older Japanese or Japanese American parents.
Two of my women friends sent her flowers after their first appointment with her! Thanks for the referral Violet!

Dr. Kawaratani is a great doctor, I found that she was very helpful with everything I saw her about