Purpose of the Establishment of JSAM in 1981

Acupuncture originated in China more than 3,000 years ago and was introduced to Japan in the 5th century. It has contributed to the health of the people in both countries as well as throughout the world.
The renewed Acupuncture and Moxibustion Academy of Japan (日本鍼灸医学会) was founded in 1948 as The Acupuncture and Moxibustion Academy of Japan (日本鍼灸学会; without modifying its English name) and assumed a new name in 1975 with the purpose of encouraging medical researchers to join the society. The Japan Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society (日本鍼灸治療学会) on the other hand was established in 1951 with the purpose of developing clinical acupuncture and moxibustion to raise the level of this treatment modality from the level of a medical technique to a medical science.
Both societies continued performing various activities such as holding academic conferences, publishing journals and exchange with domestic and international societies.

The quite remarkable recent progress in scientific research on acupuncture, moxibustion and related traditional treatment modalities led in many countries to their reevaluation as an important form of medicine. Also, the number of international and domestic issues that should be handled by representatives from the field of acupuncture and moxibustion is increasing. This requires a Japanese society of acupuncture and moxibustion legally approved by the government. The development of new paradigms for the cooperation between western medical researchers, physicians and acupuncturists is very important to promote acupuncture research and satisfy the demands from the community.
For the above reasons I would like to propose reorganization and integration of The Acupuncture and Moxibustion Academy of Japan and The Japan Acupuncture & Moxibustion Society to establish the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (JSAM).

1 January 1980
Representative of Proposers
KentaroTAKAGI