About JAOT
President’s Message
After 33 years, JAOT’s definition of “Occupational Therapy” was amended
Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists
President Haruki Nakamura
The Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists (JAOT) reached its 50th anniversary in 2016. The association, which had 18 members at the time of its founding in 1966, now reaching about 60,000. In May 2018, amended JAOT’s definition of Occupational Therapy was accepted at general meeting of representatives. New definition is as follows:
“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”
The JAOT is engaged in promoting the science of occupational therapy, enhancing pre- and post-graduate education for occupational therapists, and improving the social status of occupational therapists in the Japanese Social Security system. It is also engaged in occupational therapy promotion and publicity activities for its members, persons in other professions, and the general public; international exchange, particularly the enhancement of connections with occupational therapist associations in East Asia and other countries; and developing projects that serve as the main pillars of its support activities, such as during large-scale disasters. We hope, through these activities, to contribute to improving the health and welfare of Japanese people as well as all people globally through occupational therapy.
The Japanese Occupational Therapy Congress & Expo is held every year in September includes sessions for presenting topics in English as well as an international symposium. In addition, the Asian Journal of Occupational Therapy is always receiving submissions for research theses in English. In the case of Japan, as it faces the future, the journal seeks a further deepening of occupational therapy while awaiting entries from many persons worldwide.
About the Association
Name | Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists (JAOT) |
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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
President | NAKAMURA, Haruki (Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists) |
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Vice President | KAYAMA, Akemi (Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University) |
MIYAGUCHI, Hideki (Hiroshima University) | |
YAMAMOTO, Shinichi (Yamanashi Rehabilitation Hospital) | |
Executive Director |
UDA, Kaoru (Omotokai) |
OBA, Jumpei (Kobe Gakuin University) | |
SAKAI, Yasutoshi (Umeda Akebono Gakuen) | |
SATO, Takaomi (Lifely Co., Ltd) | |
SHIMIZU, Ken-etsu (Sapporo Yamanoue Hospital) | |
FUJII, Hiromi (Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences) | |
MISAWA, Kazuto (Ehime Juzen School of Allied Medical Professions) | |
MURAI, Chika (Takamatsu Hospital) | |
Director |
IKEDA, Nozomu (Sapporo Medical University) |
IWASA, Hideshi (Reha-Care Network) | |
OKAMOTO, Yoshie (Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital) | |
KAJIWARA, Yukinobu (Ito Municipal Hospital) | |
KOBAYASHI, Takeshi (Keishin-Gakuen Educational Group) | |
SEKIMOTO, Mitsushi (Kanaeru Link Co., Ltd) | |
TAKASHIMA, Kazunori (Hiroshima Cosmopolitan University) | |
TANI, Takahiro (Kanaeru Link Co., Ltd) | |
TANIGAWA, Masumi (Naruza Co., Ltd) | |
MISAWA, Koji (Tamakyuryo Hospital) | |
Auditor | OTA, Mutsumi (The Takeda Healthcare Foundation) |
NAGAO, Tetsuo | |
FURUKAWA, Hiroshi |
WFOT Delegate and Alternates
Delegate | NAKAMURA, Haruki (Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists) |
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First Alternate | ISHIBASHI, Fusae (International University of Health and Welfare) |
Second Alternate | SATO, Yoshihisa (Tohoku Fukushi University) |
Past Presidents
1965-1979 | SUZUKI, Akiko |
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1979-1991 | YATANI, Reiko |
1991-2001 | TERAYAMA, Kumiko |
2001-2008 | SUGIHARA, Motoko |
Number of Representatives (as of May 1, 2020)
249
Number of JAOT Members (as of May 1, 2020)
Regular Members | 59,636 (Occupational Therapy qualification holders estimated as 99,788) *Membership rate in FY 2019 was 63.7% |
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Honorary Members | 18 |
Supporting Members | 68 Organizations, 5 Individuals |
Secretariat (as of April 1, 2018)
21 (Full-time 17, Part-time 2, System Engineer 2)
Organizational Structure
Definition of Occupational Therapy as of May, 2018 (Japan)
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
- Academic development in occupational therapy
- Improving professional skills of occupational therapists
- Promoting effective use of occupational therapy
- Popularization and publicity of occupational therapy
- Cooperation and exchange among branches and other organizations
- Support restoration of independent living to persons who have been damaged in large-scale disasters and other circumstances
- Other projects necessary to fulfill our mission
Code of Ethical Practice
- Occupational therapists dedicate their knowledge and conscience to protecting people’s health.
- Occupational therapists shall always maintain the highest standards of knowledge and skill.
- Occupational therapists shall respect the rights of individuals and shall not discriminate against anyone based on ideology, beliefs, or social status.
- Occupational therapists shall protect the confidentiality of information obtained from individuals in the course of duties.
- Occupational therapists shall uphold their obligation to make required reports and records.
- Occupational therapists shall respect and cooperate with persons in other professions.
- Occupational therapists shall value the achievements of predecessors and uphold good traditions.
- Occupational therapists shall endeavor to train subordinates and raise educational standards.
- Occupational therapists shall provide mutual discipline for academic study and character building.
- Occupational therapists shall contribute to the public welfare.
- Occupational therapists shall not seek unjust compensation.
- 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 |