Innovations and challenges in occupational therapy in Japan: From the viewpoint of the Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists

Abstract

This article contains the recommendations that were made with hope for the future, by creating a historical overview of the progress and challenges of ‘50 years of occupational therapy in Japan’ and determining today's tasks, from the viewpoint of the Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists. This paper is based on the keynote speech for the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress, 2014.

In ‘From the past to the present of occupational therapy in Japan’, the author overviewed the main events in occupational therapy according to five periods. In ‘Current occupational therapy in Japan’, the author notes activities in areas such as clinical practice, education, research and social contributions, against a backdrop of Japan's declining birthrate, ageing population, the rapid increase in the number of young occupational therapists and the low level of awareness about occupational therapy. Finally, in ‘Message for the future of occupational therapy in Japan’, the author gives her personal opinion about the ‘identity of occupational therapy’ from the perspectives of an experienced occupational therapist.

Keywords:

• Occupational therapy
• Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists
• Challenges in occupational therapy
• Ageing population
• Awareness of occupational therapy

Acknowledgements

When I was president of JAOT, it was my aspiration to hold the WFOT Congress in Japan. I am happy that we achieved my heart's desire by holding this 16th WFOT Congress (WFOT 2014). I would like to again express my appreciation to President Haruki Nakamura and other people related to JAOT, and to WFOT Delegate Noriko Tomioka and other people related to the WFOT, and also express my sincere thanks for being given the opportunity to deliver the keynote speech. I would also like to express my appreciation to JAOT staff members under office manager Keiji Miyai who cooperated in providing me with many materials possessed by JAOT during the process of preparing for this keynote.

Notes

1 On 8 July 1853, the American Admiral Matthew Perry suddenly appeared with four black ships off the coast of Uraga, Kanagawa Prefecture. This was a famous event referred to as the ‘arrival of the black ships’ that shocked Japanese people. As a result of that incident, the period of national isolation that had continued for more than 260 years came to an end, and the wheels of history rolled towards the Meiji Era of modern Japan.