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HONG KONG, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prudential Hong Kong Limited ("Prudential") hosted the Prudential Health Summit: Improving care for every patient ("the Summit") on 27 March, 2026. The Summit brought together healthcare experts, providers, academia, industry partners and patient groups from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to exchange practical ideas for building a more collaborative healthcare system while supporting better patient experiences and outcomes in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape.
Speaking at the Summit, Lawrence Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Hong Kong, said: "Patient experience is at the heart of how we continue to evolve our health business at Prudential. Improving clarity, coordination and support for patients is a shared responsibility across the entire health ecosystem. Today's discussions reaffirm the importance of working together to deliver more seamless and reassuring healthcare journeys."
Arjan Toor, Chief Executive Officer, Health, Prudential plc, added: "Listening to patients is essential to improving how care is experienced. Collaboration across prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery enables different industry players to bring their strengths together, providing patients with greater clarity and support at critical health moments, when reassurance and peace of mind matter most."
The Summit reflects Prudential's ongoing engagement with healthcare partners, with a shared focus on improving the experience for customers when they are unwell and helping them navigate medical care with greater clarity, assurance and confidence. The panel discussions also drew on insights from Prudential's Patient Voices survey, which highlights patient experiences and expectations across different stages of their healthcare journeys.
Candy Au Yeung, Chief Customer Operations and Health Officer of Prudential Hong Kong Limited, said: "When people face health concerns, clear information, timely support and peace of mind matter most. Without timely access to care, many are left feeling confused and frustrated. Patients are not outsiders; they are central to the healthcare ecosystem, which is why education and cross–sector collaboration are essential."
Prof. Eng-kiong Yeoh, Director, Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said: "It is critical that patients are informed, engaged and empowered throughout their health journey. To achieve this, we need an ongoing platform that brings together medical service providers, healthcare professionals, insurers, regulators and policymakers to work together in strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of our healthcare system."
Dr Yannie Soo, Assistant Chief Hospital Manager of Union Hospital, said: "We really have to take action to strengthen the healthcare system so patients can trust it and adhere to the treatment they need, which will help bring the overall healthcare burden down. We also need more coordinated collaboration and better communication among insurers, healthcare providers and patients, so they are aware of potential shortfalls in medical expense early in the treatment process and can prepare ahead."
Alex Lam, Chairman, Hong Kong Patients' Voices, said: "Many patients feel uncertain when health issues arise, and finding the right doctor or hospital for appropriate treatment can be challenging, particularly when they are unsure where to turn. Hence, access to clear, trustworthy information and support to navigate care is essential. Greater transparency in medical pricing also plays a critical role in helping patients make informed decisions throughout their healthcare journey."
Dr. Kin Lai Chung, Chief Executive Officer, CUHK Medical Centre, said: "Healthcare institutions play a critical role in the broader health ecosystem. We see strong value in working more closely with insurers and their agency force to share insights on medical developments, specialist expertise and emerging service models, equipping insurance agents with essential medical knowledge to facilitate healthcare decision making for customers and patients. Through stronger industry collaboration, greater transparency and improved affordability, we can build greater trust among the public in medical institutions and deliver care patients can rely on."
About Prudential Hong Kong Limited
Prudential has been serving the people of Hong Kong since 1964. Through Prudential Hong Kong Limited and Prudential General Insurance Hong Kong Limited, we provide a range of financial planning services and products including individual life insurance, investment-linked insurance, retirement solutions, health and medical protection, general insurance, and employee benefits to protect over 1.4 million customers in Hong Kong. In 2023, Prudential established its Macau branch to offer health insurance and financial solutions for the Macau community, completing its footprint in the Greater Bay Area. Please visit www.prudential.com.hk for more information.
HONG KONG, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prudential Hong Kong Limited ("Prudential") hosted the Prudential Health Summit: Improving care for every patient ("the Summit") on 27 March, 2026. The Summit brought together healthcare experts, providers, academia, industry partners and patient groups from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to exchange practical ideas for building a more collaborative healthcare system while supporting better patient experiences and outcomes in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape.
Speaking at the Summit, Lawrence Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Hong Kong, said: "Patient experience is at the heart of how we continue to evolve our health business at Prudential. Improving clarity, coordination and support for patients is a shared responsibility across the entire health ecosystem. Today's discussions reaffirm the importance of working together to deliver more seamless and reassuring healthcare journeys."
Arjan Toor, Chief Executive Officer, Health, Prudential plc, added: "Listening to patients is essential to improving how care is experienced. Collaboration across prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery enables different industry players to bring their strengths together, providing patients with greater clarity and support at critical health moments, when reassurance and peace of mind matter most."
The Summit reflects Prudential's ongoing engagement with healthcare partners, with a shared focus on improving the experience for customers when they are unwell and helping them navigate medical care with greater clarity, assurance and confidence. The panel discussions also drew on insights from Prudential's Patient Voices survey, which highlights patient experiences and expectations across different stages of their healthcare journeys.
Candy Au Yeung, Chief Customer Operations and Health Officer of Prudential Hong Kong Limited, said: "When people face health concerns, clear information, timely support and peace of mind matter most. Without timely access to care, many are left feeling confused and frustrated. Patients are not outsiders; they are central to the healthcare ecosystem, which is why education and cross–sector collaboration are essential."
Prof. Eng-kiong Yeoh, Director, Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said: "It is critical that patients are informed, engaged and empowered throughout their health journey. To achieve this, we need an ongoing platform that brings together medical service providers, healthcare professionals, insurers, regulators and policymakers to work together in strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of our healthcare system."
Dr Yannie Soo, Assistant Chief Hospital Manager of Union Hospital, said: "We really have to take action to strengthen the healthcare system so patients can trust it and adhere to the treatment they need, which will help bring the overall healthcare burden down. We also need more coordinated collaboration and better communication among insurers, healthcare providers and patients, so they are aware of potential shortfalls in medical expense early in the treatment process and can prepare ahead."
Alex Lam, Chairman, Hong Kong Patients' Voices, said: "Many patients feel uncertain when health issues arise, and finding the right doctor or hospital for appropriate treatment can be challenging, particularly when they are unsure where to turn. Hence, access to clear, trustworthy information and support to navigate care is essential. Greater transparency in medical pricing also plays a critical role in helping patients make informed decisions throughout their healthcare journey."
Dr. Kin Lai Chung, Chief Executive Officer, CUHK Medical Centre, said: "Healthcare institutions play a critical role in the broader health ecosystem. We see strong value in working more closely with insurers and their agency force to share insights on medical developments, specialist expertise and emerging service models, equipping insurance agents with essential medical knowledge to facilitate healthcare decision making for customers and patients. Through stronger industry collaboration, greater transparency and improved affordability, we can build greater trust among the public in medical institutions and deliver care patients can rely on."
About Prudential Hong Kong Limited
Prudential has been serving the people of Hong Kong since 1964. Through Prudential Hong Kong Limited and Prudential General Insurance Hong Kong Limited, we provide a range of financial planning services and products including individual life insurance, investment-linked insurance, retirement solutions, health and medical protection, general insurance, and employee benefits to protect over 1.4 million customers in Hong Kong. In 2023, Prudential established its Macau branch to offer health insurance and financial solutions for the Macau community, completing its footprint in the Greater Bay Area. Please visit www.prudential.com.hk for more information.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Prudential Health Summit: Improving Care for Every Patient brings healthcare leaders together to support patients in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area
KANAZAWA, Japan, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kanazawa Biyori, a regional media platform rooted in Hokuriku, is committed to sharing the living culture of this region with a broader audience — not only its celebrated landmarks, but the traditions that continue to define what it means to call this city home. The Hyakumangoku Festival is the beating heart of Kanazawa: magnificent, historic, and unmistakably alive.
The Procession That Defines a City
The Hyakumangoku Festival is held each June in commemoration of Lord Maeda Toshiie's triumphant entry into Kanazawa Castle on June 14, 1583 — the moment that laid the foundation of the Kaga Domain and shaped the city as we know it today. Now in its 75th edition, the festival runs from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7, 2026, transforming the center of Kanazawa into a stage for one of Japan's most spectacular civic celebrations.
At its heart is the Hyakumangoku Gyōretsu — a procession of breathtaking scale and pageantry that departs from the iconic Tsuzumimon Gate at Kanazawa Station and winds its way through the city to Kanazawa Castle Park. On Saturday, June 6, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., the streets of Kanazawa belong entirely to history brought to life.
This Year's Highlight: Where Living Tradition Meets National Drama
The defining draw of this year's festival is a convergence that happens once in a generation. Lord Maeda Toshiie will be portrayed by Daito Shunsuke, and his consort Omatsu-no-Kata by Sugai Yuka — both currently starring as Toshiie and Matsu in Toyotomi Kyodai!, the 2026 NHK Taiga Drama.
For those unfamiliar with the format: the NHK Taiga Drama is Japan's most prestigious historical drama series, broadcast annually by the national public broadcaster since 1963. In Japan, historical figures are often remembered — and reimagined — through the lens of whoever portrayed them in a given year's Taiga. To see these actors step from the screen into the streets of Kanazawa, embodying the very figures who built this city, is an experience with few parallels.
A Procession of Power and Craft
The Gyōretsu is more than a parade — it is a living tableau of Kaga culture in motion. Music corps perform at three points along the route, filling the streets with sound and energy. The Kaga Tobi — the storied firefighters of the Edo-period domain — take to the street four times, their acrobatic ladder performances drawing gasps from the crowd. The thunderous Kaga Shishi lion dance, a designated cultural property of Kanazawa, moves through the procession with an energy that is as ancient as it is electric.
This year, the procession once again incorporates the Kiriko float parade from Noto — a powerful gesture of solidarity with the region's ongoing recovery from the 2024 earthquake. The sight of Noto's lantern floats moving through the streets of Kanazawa carries a meaning that no words can fully capture.
Three Days of Living Culture
The festival extends well beyond the Gyōretsu. Across three days, a series of events deeply rooted in Kanazawa's cultural identity are planned. The Hyakumangoku Takigi Nō is set to bring Noh theater to life under the open sky, performed by firelight in the grounds of Kanazawa Castle Park — a hauntingly beautiful tradition. The Hyakumangoku Chakai tea ceremony will offer visitors a window into the refined world of Kaga's tea culture. And as night falls, the Hyakumangoku Odori Nagashi fills the streets with dance, open to all — no experience, no affiliation required.
An Invitation
Kanazawa Biyori shares this festival not simply as a seasonal event, but as a window into the soul of this city — a place where history is not preserved behind glass, but performed, danced, and lived each June. Whether you come to watch or to join, the Hyakumangoku Festival is Kanazawa at its fullest.
- Information The 75th Hyakumangoku Festival
Dates: Friday, June 5 – Sunday, June 7, 2026 Main Event — Hyakumangoku Gyōretsu: Saturday, June 6, 2:00–6:00 p.m. Location: Central Kanazawa (departing from Tsuzumimon Gate, Kanazawa Station)
Media Contact
Kanazawa Biyori Co., Ltd.
Sunpia Izumigaoka 511, 255 Fushimishinmachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0964, Japan
Email: info@kanazawabiyori.com
©Ishikawa Prefecture Tourism Federation
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Hyakumangoku Festival in Kanazawa: A Grand Procession Rooted in Samurai Legacy
