I briefly summarized major innovative movements and events in medical education in Japan during the last 25 years. We recognized that constant efforts have been exerted and resulted in changes in manyaspects of medical education in our country.
Traditional medicine is rapidly changing, developing and expanding to more sophistication and integration. The world is changing, thus the needs for medicine and medical care are different from even those several years ago. To update medical education in order to meet social needs and demands, we have to install a device which constantly renews ourselves in each school and in the government. Both governmental and non-governmental approaches in cooperation seem to be necessary in our country. I have shown our non-governmental efforts from various sources. We recognize that our thinking and discussions in an environment of freedom have contributed a great deal to national decision making.