Timeline of healthcare in Japan

6th-7th Centuries

Kampō medicine, which is the study of Chinese medicine, is introduced in Japan through Korea. Based on this study, the Japanese create their own unique system of diagnosis and therapy.

1603-1868

Edo period. Rangaku, literally "Dutch learning" is developed in Japan through its contacts with the Dutch colonists as they are the only European foreigners tolerated in Japan. Books and medical sciences are obtained from the Dutch, and then analyzed and translated into Japanese. Great debates occur between the proponents of traditional Chinese medicine and those of the new Western learning.

1922-onward

With a pertaining law, modern health care system develops initially emulating the German system. Health insurance is established as mandatory.

1990–present

Japan achieves the highest life expectancy of any country in the world. Also, child mortality falls among the lowest levels at a global scale. Actual issues of its healthcare system are the growing senior population that has impact on government spending, and high rates of [...] among the Japanese.

912–995

Development

Ishinpō, the oldest surviving Japanese medical text is written by Tamba Yasuyori.

1820s

Development

Japanese ranpô medical practitioners translate Dutch medical texts, also integrating their readings with clinical diagnoses.

1872

Organization (public medical school)

Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine is established.

Kyoto

1889

Organization (hospital)

Koyama Fukusei Hospital is founded.

Gotemba, Shizuoka

1891

Organization (private medical school)

Kitasato Shibasaburō (disciple of Robert Koch), founds the first Institute of Infectious Diseases, thus introducing the study of bacteriology in Japan.

Tokyo

1905

Development

National health insurance emerges in Japan as the result of a gradual process when the Kamegafuchi Textile Company starts providing limited benefits for its employees. In the following decades, more and more corporations begin offering benefits through mutual aid societies.

1909

Organization (hospital)

Kikuchi Keifuen Sanatorium is established as a sanatorium for leprosy patients or ex-leprosy patients.

Koshi, Kumamoto

1918

Organization (hospital)

Tokyo Medical University (TMU) is founded with the then status of Tokyo Isen. TMU is one of the old medical schools of Japan’s Taishō period. The school will not receive university status until 1946.

Tokyo

1927

Policy

The first Employee Health Insurance plan is created following the implementation of the 1922 law. Aimed at industrial employees and miners, but excluding the self-employed and employees in companies with fewer than five.

1928

Organization (public medical school)

Tokyo Medical and Dental University is established.

Bunkyō, Tokyo

1930

Organization (hospital)

Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium is founded for the treatment of leprosy.

Setouchi, Okayama

1932

Organization (hospital)

Kuryu Rakusen-en Sanatorium is founded.

Kusatsu, Gunma

1938

Policy

Health insurance is extended to farmers, fishermen, foresters and other groups not covered by the 1922 law.

1943

Organization (hospital)

Amami Wakoen Sanatorium is founded for treating for leprosy or ex-leprosy patients.

Amami, Kagoshima

1945

Organization (hospital)

Suruga Sanatorium is founded for treating leprosy.

Gotenba, Shizuoka

1947

Organization (private medical school)

Osaka Women’s Medical College is established. In 1954, it is renamed Kansai Medical University.

Moriguchi, Osaka

1949

Program launch

Several volunteer organizations are formed to combat parasitic worms. Biannual school-based mass screening and treatment are implemented.

1952

Organization (hospital)

NTT Medical Center Tokyo is founded.

Shinagawa, Tokyo

1957

Organization (research institute)

National Institute of Radiological Sciences founded.

Inage-ku (Chiba)

1961

Policy/achievement

Japan achieves universal health insurance coverage and almost everyone becomes insured.

1967

Policy

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approves four Kampō medicines for reimbursement under the National Health Insurance (NHI) program.

1970

Organization (hospital)

Kanagawa Children's Medical Center founded.

Yokohama

1971

Organization (private medical school)

St. Marianna University School of Medicine is founded.

Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki

1971

Organization (hospital)

Fujisawa City Hospital founded.

Fujisawa

1972

Organization (private medical school)

Jichi Medical University is established.

Shimotsuke, Tochigi

1972

Organization (private medical school)

Kanazawa Medical University is established.

Uchinada, Ishikawa

1973

Organization (public medical school)

National Defense Medical College is founded.

Tokorozawa, Saitama

1974

Organization (public medical school)

Hamamatsu University School of Medicine is founded.

Hamamatsu

1976

Policy

82 kampo medicines are approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. This number increases to 148 Kampo formulation extracts, 241 crude drugs, and 5 crude [...] preparations.

1983

Policy

Health and Medical Service Law for the Aged enacted. All elderly persons are covered by government-sponsored insurance.

2000

Study

Nationwide study reports that 72% of registered physicians prescribe Kampō medicines.

2009

Report

John Creighton Campbell, professor at the University of Michigan and Tokyo University, tells the New York Times that Japanese people are "the healthiest" group on the planet.

2011

Policy

The Government of Japan begins issuing six-month medical visas to allow visitors that much time to receive medical treatment in Japan. The government also plans to set up a special office that will promote medical tourism.

2011

Organization (hospital)

Nagoya City West Medical Center is founded.

Kita-ku, Nagoya

2014

Report

Statistics show for the first time that [...] is the most common cause of death among those aged 10 to 19.