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History of Japanese Midwifery

1927
Nihon Samba Kai (predecessor of JMA) formed with a membership of about 50,000. Ai Tsuge becomes president.
1946
 Nihon Samba Kangofu Hokenfu Kyokai (predecessor of Japanese Nursing Association) established. (Nihon Samba Kai joins its Samba Division)
1947
The journal Hoken to Josan (Health and Midwifery) first published.
1948
 Nihon Samba Kangofu Hokenfu Kyokai changes its name to Nihon Kango Kyokai (Japanese Nursing Association), and Samba Division to Josanpu Division.
1953
 Fuku Yokoyama elected as a member of the House of Councilors. (The number of votes cast for her was 307,389, while the membership of JNA was 405,154)
1954
 Fuku Yokoyama participates in the inauguration assembly of ICM as an observer in her capacity as representative of JNA.
Joins ICM.
1955
The majority of midwife members leave JNA to form Nihon Josanpu Kai (Japanese Midwives’ Association). (First general assembly, held in Atami, Shizuoka, elects Fuku Yokoyama as president)
The 10th Academic Conference of Midwives held.
1957
 President Yokoyama and Vice President Miyoko Tanaka participate in the 11th ICM Congress in Stockholm.
1958
The name of the JMA journal changed from Hoken to Josan to Josanpu (Midwife).
1959
 JMA President Yokoyama re-elected to the House of Councilors for the second term.
1965
Maternity Home Section established with Isono Hoshino as its chief.
1967
 JMA President Yokoyama re-elected to the House of Councilors for the third term.
1968
 Ogya Kenkin (Collection of Contributions for disabled children) begins.
1976
 New guidelines for midwifery practice issued.
1977
JMA headquarters office opens on the 4th floor of the newly constructed Tokyo Midwives’ Association Hall.
1987
 Takako Ito becomes president
1990
 The 22nd ICM Congress held in Kobe with a participation of about 6000 from 53 countries.
1991
 Takako Ito re-elected as president.
1992
 Rinko Taga becomes president.
1994
 Rinko Taga re-elected as president.
1995
 Three-specialist-section system established.
Map of Maternity Homes Nationwide published.
1996
Rinko Taga re-elected as president for the third term.
Long-Term Training Course for Prospective Private Practice Midwives started.
1998
 Kazuko Ishizuka becomes president.
Child-Rearing and Women’s Health Support Centers established in 15 chapters.
Manual for Maternal and Child Support in Disasters published in the wake of the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
1999
 Manual for Private Practice Midwives published.
The journal Josanpu to be distributed to each member starting from Vol.53, No.2 (May issue)
2000
Kazuko Ishizuka re-elected as president.
JMA votes in favor of introducing male midwives, which instantly spurs opposition campaigns.
Manual for the Establishment of Child-Rearing and Women’s Health Support Centers published.
Ogya Kenkin renamed as Sukusuku Akachan Kenkin.
2001
 Child-Rearing and Women’s Health Support Centers established in 47 chapters nationwide.
2002
 Junko Kondo becomes president.
Manual for Puberty Education and Guidance published.
2003
The Japanese name of JMA changed to Nihon Josanshi Kai.
2004
 Junko Kondo re-elected as president.
Guidelines for Maternity Home Services approved by the general meeting and issued.
Midwives’ Manual on Prevention of Child Abuse published.
2005
Partial revision of the Article of Association approved by the 2005 ordinary general meeting in Oita on May 26.
Junko Kondo begins her first term as president under the new Article of Association.
2006
Audiovisual Material for Puberty Education by Midwives published.
Manual on Disaster Support by Midwives published.
A Statement by Midwives published.