Current Status of Licensing and Education of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Physicians and Acupuncturists/Moxibustionists in Japan

Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) originated in ancient China; however, it gradually became unique to Japan. Regarding the education of acupuncturists/moxibustionists (AMists), ancient Chinese classical theory is reverenced; however, the content being taught largely incorporates modern Western medicine. In this study, we focused on the current school curriculum, national examinations, postgraduate education, and certification systems for physicians and nonphysician AMists. In Japan, only physicians, dentists, or AMists are licensed to practice AM; however, AM has recently been mostly practiced by nonphysician AMists. Medical students are only slightly exposed to AM in their undergraduate curricula; therefore, only a few physicians practice AM. Notably, some universities or public hospitals offer postgraduate education on AM; however, the system has been insufficiently available to both physicians and AMists. Each society has a certification system for physicians and AMists to be recognized as Kampo (Japanese traditional medicine that is primarily a herbal medicine-based treatment) specialists and certified AMists, respectively; however, there is no AM certification system for physicians. Therefore, enhancing undergraduate and postgraduate education for medical AM practitioners is a future challenge.