The dawn of modern dentistry in Japan: The transfer of knowledge and skills from foreign dentists to Japanese counterparts in the Yokohama Foreign Settlement

Abstract

Summary Modern Western dentistry was introduced to Japan by foreign dentists who arrived in Yokohama, after the opening of the country. The arrival in Japan of foreign dentists triggered the introduction of modern dentistry into Japan. We searched through advertisements in the English and Japanese language newspapers published in the Yokohama Settlement to trace the footsteps of these foreign dentists. This paper traces the early history of modern dentistry in Japan from 1865 to 1912 by dividing the period into four phases: Phase I (1865–1875), Phase II (1876–1889), Phase III (1890–1905), and Phase IV (1906–1912). W.C. Eastlack left America for a journey across the Pacific in January 1860. After setting up practices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, he arrived in Japan to open one at No. 108, Yokohama Foreign Settlement for 7 months starting on October 9th, 1865. He thus became the first foreign dentist in Japan, followed by colleagues who arrived in Yokohama and Kobe to start their own practices. These dentists hired Japanese dental assistants, who assimilated the technique of modern dentistry to become themselves professionals in their own right. Einosuke Obata, an assistant to St. G. Elliott, took the National Medical Licensure Examination to obtain a license to practice dentistry, thus becoming the first Japanese licensed dentist. This led in October 1883 to the establishment of new regulations for the Medical Licensure Examination to include dental subjects. In 1906, Japanese dental law was established.