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2)Juntendo University Faculty of Health Science, Tokyo, Japan1)Department of Radiological Technology, Juntendo University Faculty of Health Science, Tokyo, JapanCorresponding author: Tatsuo SakaiDepartment of Radiological Technology, Juntendo University Faculty of Health Science2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo Japan, 113-8421TEL: +81-3-3813-3111 (ext 3901)　FAX: +81-3-3812-1781　E-mail: tatsuo@juntendo.ac.jp〔Received　Sep. 14, 2021〕〔Accepted　Sep. 28, 2021〕J-STAGE Advance published date: Dec. 17, 2021Copyright © 2022 The Juntendo Medical Society. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original source is properly credited. doi: 10.14789/jmj.JMJ21-0028-RBackground: The evolution of radiological technology is one of the most remarkable events of modern medical technology. Radiological examination has resulted in non-invasive, individual diagnostic imaging, which has contributed significantly to successful medical treatment of patients.Key Concepts: This review summarizes past and current Japanese educational systems for radiological technologists with a historical perspective focusing on three periods. The first period begins with Roentgen’s discovery of X-rays (1895), the second period begins with the establishment of the Radiological X-ray Technologist Act (1951), and the third period begins with the launch of the first university course for radiological technologists (1987). It is conceivable that those periods are in accordance with the technological paradigm shifts, including the development of contrast radiography and the application of CT and MRI to clinical practice. To maintain awareness of the most recent available technologies and maximize safety, educational programs teaching the latest knowledge were offered during each period.Conclusions: The advanced technologies require highly skilled radiological technologists and highly established educational systems. At present, over 70% of Japanese educational programs for radiological technologists are university courses leading to a bachelor’s degree. The increasing globalization of radiological technology requires future radiological education systems to have a global perspective.Key words: radiological technologist, education system, history, globalizationJuntendo Medical Journal2022. 68(1), 44-51ReviewsA Contribution to the History of Japanese Education Systems for Radiological TechnologistsIntroductionRadiological technology is essential for high-quality modern healthcare and is used at present not only for diagnostic imaging but for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine. X-ray examinations, introduced at the end of the 19th century, were the first type of non-invasive diagnostic imaging applied to clinical settings1). Before the advent of X-ray technology, the inside of the human body had been visualized for diagnosis of diseases by cadaveric autopsy only after death1). Incorporation of X-ray examination into clinical practice allowing in vivo visualization of the human body contributed significantly to successful treatment2).Radiological examinations were initially applied for morphological diagnoses of, for example, ortho-pedic patients and patients with tuberculosis2). The safety and quality of contrast media have been improved, leading to advances in the field of contrast radiography. Later, two remarkable cross-sectional diagnostic imaging technologies, computed tomog-raphy (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were developed in the 1970s to 1980s. Radiological examinations have been gradually substituted for the autopsy as the diagnostic means.Yasuaki SAKANO1), Kenzo MUROI1), Masami GOTO1), Hajime SAKAMOTO1), Yuh MORIMOTO2), Shinsuke KYOGOKU1), Tatsuo SAKAI1, 2), Hiroyuki DAIDA1, 2)44