About JAOT

About JAOT

About the Association

Name Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists (JAOT)
Establishment September 25, 1966
Office Address Morimitsu-shinko Bldg, 1-5-9, Kotobuki, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 111-0042
Contact dep.international@jaot.or.jp

Executive Management Team (In preparation)

President YAMAMOTO, Shinichi
Vice President OBA, Jumpei
KAYAMA, Akemi
MISAWA, Kazuto

Managing Director
SAKAI, Yasutoshi
SHIMIZU, Ken-etsu
SEKIMOTO, Mitsushi
MURAI, Chiga
IKEDA, Nozomu
TAKASHIMA, Kazunori
TANIKAWA, Masumi
HAYASAKA, Tomonari




Director
KOBAYASHI, Takeshi
SATO, Takaomi
TAKENAKA, Saeko
IKEDA, Katsuhiko
SHIMAZAKI, Hiromasa
TAKAHASHI, Kayoko
TAKASHIMA, Kazunori
TATSUMI, Kazuhiko
TANIGUCHI, Takamichi
DOI, Yoshinori
NOTO, Shinichi
FUTAGAMI, Masakazu
Auditor IWASE, Yoshiaki
SAWA, Shunji
NAGAO, Tetsuo

WFOT Delegate and Alternates

Delegate OBA, Jumpei
First Alternate TAKAHASHI, Kayoko
Second Alternate SATO, Yoshihisa

Past Presidents

1965-1979 SUZUKI, Akiko
1979-1991 YATANI, Reiko
1991-2001 TERAYAMA, Kumiko
2001-2008 SUGIHARA, Motoko
2009-2023 NAKAMURA, Haruki

Number of Representatives (as of April, 2023)

246

Number of JAOT Members (as of May, 2023)

Regular Members 60,229 (Occupational Therapy qualification holders estimated as 108,872)
*Membership rate in FY 2022 was 56.8%
Honorary Members 18
Supporting Members 65 Organizations, 6 Individuals

Organizational Structure

Definition of Occupational Therapy 

Occupational Therapy is occupation-focused therapy, guidance and support provided in fields such as medical care, public health, welfare, education and employment, with the aim of promoting human health and well-being. “Occupation” refers to daily activities that are purposeful and meaningful to each person.

(Notes)
・Occupational therapy is grounded on the fundamental principle and academic evidence that “people’s health and well-being can be promoted through occupation.”
・“Clients” are individuals or groups of people who have or are expected to have difficulties in their daily activities as a result of physical, mental, developmental, or age-related disabilities or difficulty adjusting to their environment.
・“Occupations” include daily activities such as activities of daily living, housework, work, hobbies, play, interpersonal interaction, and rest; and are founded on physical and mental components for each activity.
・“Occupations” are activities that a person wants to, needs to, or is expected to do, and have purpose and meaning for each person.
・Occupation-focused practice involves using occupations as ends to restore, maintain, or prevent the decline of physical and mental function, and occupations as means to practice and achieve occupational engagement, and modifying environment to support its achievement.

Mission and Objectives

Our Mission

To work toward the improvement of professional skills and cultivation of the personal qualities of occupational therapists, promote the popularization of occupational therapy, and contribute to people’s health and welfare.

Our Objectives

  1. Academic development in occupational therapy
  2. Improving professional skills of occupational therapists
  3. Promoting effective use of occupational therapy
  4. Popularization and publicity of occupational therapy
  5. Cooperation and exchange among branches and other organizations
  6. Support restoration of independent living to persons who have been damaged in large-scale disasters and other circumstances
  7. Other projects necessary to fulfill our mission

Code of Ethical Practice

  1. Occupational therapists dedicate their knowledge and conscience to protecting people’s health.
  2. Occupational therapists shall always maintain the highest standards of knowledge and skill.
  3. Occupational therapists shall respect the rights of individuals and shall not discriminate against anyone based on ideology, beliefs, or social status.
  4. Occupational therapists shall protect the confidentiality of information obtained from individuals in the course of duties.
  5. Occupational therapists shall uphold their obligation to make required reports and records.
  6. Occupational therapists shall respect and cooperate with persons in other professions.
  7. Occupational therapists shall value the achievements of predecessors and uphold good traditions.
  8. Occupational therapists shall endeavor to train subordinates and raise educational standards.
  9. Occupational therapists shall provide mutual discipline for academic study and character building.
  10. Occupational therapists shall contribute to the public welfare.
  11. Occupational therapists shall not seek unjust compensation.
  12. Occupational therapists shall not engage in action in conflict with laws or humanity.

History

1965 Enactment of Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists Act
1966 Foundation of Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists (initially, 18 members)
Akiko Suzuki appointed as first President
First issue of JAOT News
1967 1st Japanese Occupational Therapy Congress and Expo held
1970 Joining in World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) as an associate member
1972 Joining in World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) as a regular member
1974 Establishment of medical remuneration system for occupational therapy
1979 Reiko Yatani appointed as second President
1981 Approved as an incorporated association
First issue of JAOT Journal “Sagyouryouhou” published
1983 Number of members exceeded 1,000
Development of “1st Long-Term Activity Plan”
1986 Establishment of regional organizations (Associations of Occupational Therapists) in all prefectures
1990 First edition of “Occupational Therapy” published
1991 Kumiko Terayama appointed as third President
Development of “2nd Long-Term Activity Plan”
1993 “Occupation Therapy Manual” series launched
Registration with Science Council of Japan as an academic organization
Number of members exceeded 5,000
1998 Establishment of life-long education system (credit recognition system)
1999 24th WFOT Council and Executive Meeting held in Sapporo
Number of members exceeded 10,000
2001 Motoko Sugihara appointed as fourth President
Development of “3rd Long-Term Activity Plan”
2003 Establishment of authorized occupation therapist system in framework of life-long education
Number of members exceeded 20,000
2005 Establishment of case report recording system
2007 Establishment of specialized occupation therapist system in framework of life-long education
Number of members exceeded 30,000
2008 Haruki Nakamura appointed as fifth President
Development of “1st Five-year Strategy for Occupational Therapy (2008-2012)”
Decision to summon 16th WFOT International Congress (2014)
2010 Number of members exceeded 40,000
2011 Introduction of representative system
2012 Reorganized as a general incorporated association
First issue of “JAOT Journal” issued (“Sagyouryouhou” became an academic journal)
2013 Development of “2nd Five-year Strategy for Occupational Therapy (2013-2017)”
2014 16th WFOT International Congress held in Yokohama
2015 Number of members exceeded 50,000
2023 Shinichi Yamamoto appointed as sixth President