The Japanese Urological Association

About JUA

History of the Japanese Urological Association

In this country, during the early period of Meiji Era, a model of modern medicine was sought in Germany, and urology was introduced to Japan around 1900 together with dermatology. Therefore, urology in Japan had strong ties with dermatology until after the end of World War II, and the department of dermatology and urology continued to exist as a combined unit at medical educational institutions. Accordingly the Japanese Urological Association at its start, related closely with the Dermatological Association. The Japanese Dermatological Association established its predecessor, the Dermatosis Study Association, in December 1900, and held its first annual meeting in April 1901. In March 1901, “The Journal of Dermatosis Study and Urinary Diseases Study” (which changed its name to “The Journal of Dermatology and Urology” since the second issue) was first issued as its official journal. Achievements relating to urology were presented at annual and regular meetings of the Dermatological Association and were published in its journal.

In Europe and America, urological associations were established one after another and the Société Internationale d'Urologie was founded in 1908. In Japan, as urology was included within the Dermatological Association, doctors with surgical background who were in the private sector, set off independently to Western Europe to learn urology and then returned to Japan. These pioneers played a central role in establishing an association exclusively for urology. In January 1912, the first organizing committee was held in order to establish the Japanese Urological Association. The Japanese Urinary Diseases Study Association which was the predecessor of the Japanese Urological Association was founded in April 1912 and the first Annual Meeting (Academic Convention) was held.

In October 1912, the first issue of the first volume of the Journal of the Japanese Urinary Diseases Study Association (which changed its name to the Journal of the Japanese Urological Association since the 17th volume in 1928) was published.

The association changed its name to the Japanese Urological Association in April 1928.

Since the 18th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Urological Association, which was held in April 1929, the meetings had been co-organized in collaboration with the Japanese Dermatological Association. However since the 44th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Urological Association, which was held in April 1956, the meetings have been organized independently and separately from the Japanese Dermatological Association and the field of urology has become totally independent. In August 1991, the status of incorporated association was granted and continues to date.

In 1986, the Japanese Urological Association launched Board Certified Urologist system, and in 1994, International Journal of Urology, the official English journal of the Japanese Urological Association and Urological Association of Asia, was established in addition to the journal in Japanese.