Contents
2-1 Regulation of acupuncture in Japan
2-2 Education and certification systems of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion therapists
2-3 Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion program
2-4 Education system for acupuncture and moxibustion licensure: School for sighted people in Japan
2-5 Schools of acupuncture and moxibustion in Japan
2-6 Classification of schools of new graduates who have taken the national examination for acupuncturists
2-1 Regulation of acupuncture in Japan
- In Japan, according to the law, the practice of acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage each require their respective licensures for non-doctors.
- According to the law, schools can be established for training to receive an acupuncture license, but no such schools exist specifically for this purpose. Schools with acupuncture licensure training in Japan usually also administer licenses for either moxibustion, or massage and moxibustion , in addition to the acupuncture license.
- The law stipulates school education and national examinations as prerequisites for obtaining the license. Furthermore, acupuncture, acupuncturists, and clinics are regulated by law, but there is no regulation for postgraduate training or lifelong training after obtaining a license.
Reference
1) Act on Anma, Massage and Shiatsu Practitioners, Acupuncture Practitioners and Moxibustion Practitioners, etc. (Act No. 217 of 1947) (in Japanese) https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=322AC0000000217_20160401_426AC0000000069 (9-06-2021)
2-2 Education and certification systems of Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion therapists
Reference
1)Act on Anma, Massage and Shiatsu Practitioners, Acupuncture Practitioners and Moxibustion Practitioners, etc. (Act No. 217 of 1947) (in Japanese) https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=322AC0000000217_20160401_426AC0000000069 (9-06-2021)
2)Regulation for Certifying the School of Anma, Massage and Shiatsu, Acupuncture Therapists and Moxibustion Therapists. (Ordinance of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Welfare No. 2 of 1951) (in Japanese) https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=80141000&dataType=0&pageNo=1 (9-15-2021)
3)Partial revision of Guidelines on the Training School of Acupuncture Therapists and Moxibustion Therapists (issued by the MHLW Health Policy Bureau on March 31, 2017, 0331No.51) (in Japanese) https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=00tc2759&dataType=1&pageNo=1 (05-28-2021)
2-3 Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion program
Reference
1)Regulation for Certifying the School of Anma, Massage and Shiatsu, Acupuncture Therapists and Moxibustion Therapists. (Ordinance of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Welfare No. 2 of 1951) (in Japanese)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=80141000&dataType=0&pageNo=1 (9-15-2021)
2)Partial revision of Guidelines on the Training School of Acupuncture Therapists and Moxibustion Therapists (issued by the MHLW Health Policy Bureau on March 31, 2017, 0331No.51) (in Japanese)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=00tc2759&dataType=1&pageNo=1 (05-28-2021)
2-4 Education system for acupuncture and moxibustion licensure: School for sighted people in Japan
Only students from a 4-year university that trains acupuncturists, which was established for the first time in Japan, can take the licensure examination at the end of the third year.
Reference
1)Act on Anma, Massage and Shiatsu Practitioners, Acupuncture Practitioners and Moxibustion Practitioners, etc. (Act No. 217 of 1947) (in Japanese) https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=322AC0000000217_20160401_426AC0000000069 (9-06-2021)
2)Regulation for Certifying the School of Anma, Massage and Shiatsu, Acupuncture Therapists and Moxibustion Therapists. (Ordinance of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and Welfare No. 2 of 1951) (in Japanese)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=80141000&dataType=0&pageNo=1 (9-15-2021)
2-5 Schools of acupuncture and moxibustion in Japan
- Acupuncture therapists and the like are trained at schools designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology or training institutions designated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- Schools include universities and special support schools (i.e., school for the blind). Training institutions include professional training colleges that provide vocational education to sighted people and employment transition support (training school) that provide vocational education to the visually impaired.
- The number of schools and training institutions are updated as of May 1, 2020, and April 2020, respectively.
Reference
1) List of medical technician training facilities and enrollment capacity. the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (in Japanese)
https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20210323-mxt_igaku-100001205_20.pdf (9-08-2021)
2-6 Classification of schools of new graduates who have taken the national examination for acupuncturists: The 29th National Examination for Acupuncturists (conducted on February 28, 2021)
- This classification was created based on Reference 1). The number of schools does not include schools wherein examinees are only graduates.
- In the 17th century, Japan established educational facilities such as acupuncture for the visually impaired. In this way, acupuncture education has a long history as a vocational career for the visually impaired.
- In 1947, an educational system for acupuncture therapists, etc. was established. Currently, acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage education for the visually impaired is conducted at special support schools under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, as well as in training schools under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- Acupuncture education, etc. for sighted people is mainly conducted at professional training colleges under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare or the prefectural governors.
- Approximately 95% of the candidates for national acupuncturist examinations (scheduled to graduate in 2021) are from schools for sighted people.
Reference
1) Status of successful applicants by school for the 29th National Examination for Massage therapists, Acupuncture therapists and Moxibustion therapists, Press Release, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, March 26, 2021 (in Japanese)