Education of psychiatry in Japan

This paper discusses the problems of Japanese under- and postgraduate education of psychiatry, and indicates several important points for psychiatric education. Most medical schools give lectures on psychiatry to fourth and fifth graders. Lecturing hours average 2.3% of the total lecture time for medical students. However, the hours have tended to decrease recently, and lectures by the Department of Psychiatry are spreading to the first and second graders. These lectures include behavioral science, psychology and science for human relationships. The following problems should be solved urgently: (i) undergraduate psychiatric education should focus on the majority of medical students who will not be psychiatrists; (ii) clarification should be made of the minimum required psychiatric knowledge for medical doctors; (iii) promotion of the use of efficient educational strategies; (iv) increases in practical training. The Department of Psychiatry has an important role to play in primary education of psychiatrists in most cases. Every university educates using different curriculums; however, the programs are mostly similar in their primary training. However, there is no standardized educational system and Board of Certification for psychiatrists in Japan. Minimum requirements and a certification system for psychiatrists are urgently needed. I will discuss the global review on the issues of under- and postgraduate psychiatric education in Japan, then highlight the problems that should be targeted in the future.