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Cited by 192Innovations in Medical EducationHealth and Medical EducationMedical Education and Admissions

Medical Education in Japan

Kozu, Tadahiko·2006·Academic Medicine
DOI 10.1097/01.acm.0000246682.45610.dd
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Abstract

There are 79 medical schools in Japan--42 national, 8 prefectural (i.e., founded by a local government), and 29 private--representing approximately one school for every 1.6 million people. Undergraduate medical education is six years long, typically consisting of four years of preclinical education and then two years of clinical education. High school graduates are eligible to enter medical school. In 36 schools, college graduates are offered admission, but they account for fewer than 10% of the available positions. There were 46,800 medical students in 2006; 32.8% were women. Since 1990, Japanese medical education has undergone significant changes, with some medical schools implementing integrated curricula, problem-based learning tutorials, and clinical clerkships. A model core curriculum was proposed by the government in 2001 that outlined a core structure for undergraduate medical education, with 1,218 specific behavioral objectives. A nationwide common achievement test was instituted in 2005; students must pass this test to qualify for preclinical medical education. It is similar to the United States Medical Licensing Examination step 1, although the Japanese test is not a licensing examination. The National Examination for Physicians is a 500-item examination that is administered once a year. In 2006, 8,602 applicants took the examination, and 7,742 of them (90.0%) passed. A new law requires postgraduate training for two years after graduation. Residents are paid reasonably, and the work hours are limited to 40 hours a week. In 2004, a matching system was started; the match rate was 95.6% (46.2% for the university hospitals and 49.4% for other teaching hospitals). Sustained and meaningful change in Japanese medical education is continuing.

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  • All medical schools in Japan offer a 6-year curriculum to students entering after high school and share a model core curriculum (MCC) as the nationally uniform exit competency for certifying medical degrees.

    “All medical schools in Japan offer a 6-year curriculum to students entering after high school [19] and share a model core curriculum (MCC) as the nationally uniform exit competency for certifying medical degrees.”

    From Developing Medical Education Curriculum Reform Strategies to Address the Impact of Generative AI: Qualitative Study (2023) · cites this paper as [19]

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Authors
Kozu, T.
Affiliations
Tokyo Women's Medical University (JP)
Corresponding author
Kozu, Tadahiko
Venue
Academic Medicine
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2006-12
Volume
81
Issue
12
Pages
1069-1075
ISSN
1040-2446 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/01.acm.0000246682.45610.dd
OpenAlex
W2016855233
Cited by
192
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 7
FWCI
5.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Academic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Medical Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Medical Education and Admissions
Keywords
medical education, undergraduate medical curriculum, curriculum integration, problem-based learning, clinical rotations, core curriculum, graduate medical education, residency match, medical school admissions
MeSH terms
Clinical Clerkship, Curriculum, Education, Medical, Education, Medical, Graduate, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Educational Measurement, Female, Humans, Japan, Licensure, Medical, Male, Students, Medical, Problem-Based Learning

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