A Journey Through Japan’s Year of Traditions and Festivals: Medical education is the strongest foundation of the health system of any country. The way doctors and health specialists are prepared determines the quality of medical services in society in the long run. The history of medical education in East Asian countries—particularly Japan and Korea—has been interesting and variable. The education systems of these two countries were not only influenced by their own internal policies and cultural traditions, but they also deeply influenced each other. Japan’s education system has had a profound influence on Korea from the 19th century to the present, and educational dialogue between the two countries has continued.
19th Century Japan and the Beginning of Medical Education
The foundation of modern medical education in Japan was laid in the second half of the 19th century. The University of Tokyo took the most important step in this direction by establishing a central medical school. This institution not only provided high level education in the field of medicine, but also spread its knowledge and research system to other medical colleges. At that time, Japan was influenced by the German medical model and curriculum and training were developed on that basis. Special emphasis was laid on research in laboratories, clinical education and theoretical understanding. This model later became the basis of medical education throughout Japan.
Challenges of the 20th Century: Balancing Quality and Number
In the beginning of the 20th century, Japan faced a new problem. The question was how to maintain the quality of education while increasing the number of doctors. To find a solution to this challenge, education was divided into different levels. Higher level education was provided in the Imperial University, while general level education was provided through medical colleges and vocational schools. This increased the number of doctors, but at the same time debates began to arise about the quality of education. This period taught Japan’s education system that increasing the number alone is not enough, but the depth and practicality of medical education is equally important.
Changes after World War II
After the end of World War II, there were extensive changes in the structure of medical education in Japan. After 1945, all medical schools were brought under the university system. This was an important step, as it ensured standardization of education. The Ministry of Education implemented the “Standard for the Establishment of Universities”, under which all universities had to follow the same rules and guidelines. This change strengthened control over the quality of education, but due to increased government control over universities, a lack of flexibility was also felt.
Reform and liberalization after 1991
In 1991, the Ministry of Education relaxed the strict rules given to universities. After this, many new experiments were started in the field of medical education. First, the “Model Core Curriculum” was introduced to ensure a uniform level of education across all medical institutions. Along with this, two years of compulsory postgraduate clinical training was introduced for graduate doctors to gain practical experience. In addition, an accreditation system was introduced to assess the quality of medical institutions and to get them international recognition. These reforms played an important role in making Japan’s medical education globally competitive.
Japan’s influence on Korea
Japan had a profound influence on Korea’s medical education. When Korea was under Japanese rule between 1910 and 1945, Korea adopted Japan’s education system. Although the two countries went their separate ways after World War II, their interaction continued. For example, Korea incorporated structured clinical assessments into its national medical licensing exam and studied the results. Japan, seeing Korea’s experience, refrained from adopting this method. Similarly, Korea implemented an accreditation system for medical faculties before 2000, while this process started late in Japan. Japan’s accreditation body “Japan Accreditation Council for Medical Education” received recognition from the World Federation for Health Education only in 2017.
Cultural background and influence of Confucian ideology
The education systems of East Asian countries have been influenced by Confucian ideology. In this ideology, special importance is given to discipline, collectivism, tradition and respect for elders. This is the reason why medical education in Japan and Korea has had difficulty in discussing in small groups and encouraging independent thoughts. Both countries have constantly tried to improve clinical clerkship, but due to cultural reasons, it could not achieve complete success.
Challenges of the present time
Today, Japan’s medical education system operates under strict regulatory frameworks. At the undergraduate level, institutions have to follow strict standards to get accreditation. At the postgraduate level too, the specialty training system has been made extremely strict. Due to this, a situation of insecurity and pressure persists in many medical schools. Institutions are always worried that if they do not live up to the set standards, their recognition and reputation may be in danger.
International importance and learning
The history of medical education systems of Japan and Korea is not limited to these countries only, but it is also a guide for other East Asian countries. These countries have shown that improving the field of education and health is a long and complex process. It does not depend only on policy changes, but culture, history and social values also play a deep role in it. Japan’s education system is also considered important at the international level because it has constantly tried to strike a balance between traditions and modernity.
Conclusion
The history of Japan’s medical education is proof of the fact that time, circumstances and the influence of neighboring countries have a profound effect on the education system. How can medical education change? What began at the University of Tokyo has today led to a system based on strict international standards. Even though Korea and Japan are following different paths in their education systems, dialogue and mutual influence between the two continues. This study shows that medical education is not just an academic subject, but is deeply intertwined with society, politics and culture.
