YUBARI, Hokkaido -- Since Yubari's financial collapse came to light last June, many residents have decided to jump from the sinking ship and seek more prosperous environs elsewhere.

Not so Dr. Tomohiko Murakami, 45, who is well-known for his activities in preventive medicine.

A native of Utanobori in northern Hokkaido, Murakami came to work at Yubari City Hospital in late December. This was after an outside consultant in September judged that the hospital was effectively bankrupt with debts of nearly 5 billion yen.