This article examines the history of the Dōjinkai (同仁会, Association of Universal Benevolence), a non-profit medical philanthropic organization active most of all in China which operated hospitals, carried out research, promoted medical exchanges and during the second Sino-Japanese War became a center of Japan's epidemic prevention work. This study argues that while the organization did directly and indirectly contribute to Japan's expansion and support Japanese imperialism, it also provided valuable medical treatment and, as the example of the organization's work in Shanghai shows, its Japanese and Chinese agents worked closely in partnership in Japan’s wartime health programs.