Lessons from the 116 years (1902‐2018) of history of the Japanese Society of Neurology in establishing its identity: Secondary publication

Abstract

AbstractThe Japanese Society of Neurology and Psychiatry was founded in 1902 as a joint society of Neurology and Psychiatry, but was renamed the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology in 1935 because of the stagnation of activities of Neurology and the rise of those of Psychiatry. After World War II, activities of Neurology were restored and the Japanese Society of Neurology (JSN) independent from the Society of Internal Medicine and Society of Psychiatry was established in 1960 after overcoming many difficulties. In 1975, neurology was approved by law as one of the specialized fields of medicine. After that, neurology and JSN developed dramatically, in both research and medical practices. As of 2018, JSN had 9000 members and more than 5500 board‐certified neurology specialists. In 2018, JSN enacted a new policy to upgrade the neurology specialist from a subspecialty of Internal Medicine to an independent major medical field. Lessons of the 116 years of history of the Society would teach us a sensible way to achieve the goals.