[First introduction of massage treatment in modern Japan].
Ln early modern times, massage treatment developed in Europe. During the 1880s and 1890s, it is said that massage treatment was first introduced into Japan. But at the present time it may be said that it is not clearly understood how it was introduced from Europe into Japan and how it was developed there. I will explain the circumstances of how it developed in Japan. In 1884, when Kojo Hashimoto, the chief army doctor, was on a tour of medical missions in Europe, he obtained the illustrated book of massage: "Die Technik der Massage" (first ed. 1884), which was written by Dr. Albert Reibmayr of Austria, and he brought it back to Japan. Following this, Jiko Nagase, an army doctor, actually tried its treatment, using the first illustrated book of massage. He confirmed that massage treatment was a great medical treatment and translated this book into Japanese and published it for its popularisation. I was shown an image of the first massage of Dr. Reibmayr in looking at his first illustrated book in modern Japan. Thus, Kojo Hashimoto brought massage into Japan, and it was spread gradually among government officials and the people.
D005060:Europe; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D007564:Japan; D008405:Massage / Q000266:history*