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1)Beginning of 20th century: Including Roentgen’s discovery of X-rays (1895) Radiological technology is highly developed in Japan, with patients frequently undergoing diag-nostic radiological examinations. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the numbers of MRI and CT units per person in Japan are the highest among all countries surveyed3). The advanced technologies require competent, skilled radiological technologists (RTs). Education systems updated to fit technological advances are crucial to train skilled RTs and to maintain their knowledge of the latest clinical practices. The transition of the education system is, therefore, a reflection of the develop-ment of radiological technology.This review summarizes past and current Japa-nese education systems for RTs with a historical perspective focusing on three periods. Based on the educational and technical development, we deter-mined that 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 four-year university course for radiological technologists (1987). During the first period, Shimadzu X-Ray Technology Training Center (the current Kyoto College of Medical Science), the first X-ray tech-nical education institution in Japan, was established. In the beginning of the second period, Radiological X-ray Technologist Act and X-ray technologist training school designation rule were enacted. In this period, Chuoh College of Medical Technology, the oldest training institution in Tokyo was estab-lished in 1959. Since the third period, technological development of radiological technology has been accelerated. Today, there are three types of training schools, universities, professional training colleges, and a training institution run by Japan Self-De-fense Forces, comprising a total number of 55 insti-tutions. The universities are accredited by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Tech-nology (MEXT), and all courses are standardized by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). The Domestic Radiological Technologist Education Facility Council that oversees those 55 institutions contributes to standardization and improving the education level of RTs.The present review attempted to reveal histor-ical events in the education system of radiological technology, using several re-discovered references. The article also discusses future perspectives of Japanese radiological technology and RTs. Litera-ture on the Japanese history of radiological tech-nology and publications discussing the educational systems are scarce, and to our best knowledge, this is the first English article to describe the Japanese education system for RTs within a historical context.A few months after the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen at the end of 1895, two Japanese groups successfully produced radio-graphic photographs4), with one of the first radio-graphic photographs, showing Japanese swords, published in a journal in April 18965). Initially, medical use of X-rays in Japan occurred in the military6). Dr. Eijiro Haga, an army surgeon at that time, reported using X-ray examinations in 1901 in the treatment of soldiers wounded during the Boxer Rebellion7). X-ray equipment used at field hospitals was highly regarded during the Russo- Japanese War (1904-05)4, 8). The early technologies used in radiography were described in an article published in 19068). By using a 110 V DC 70 cm inductor, X-ray images of the limbs required 3 to 4 minutes and images of the chest, thigh, and head required 10 minutes8. Changing the photographic plates significantly shortened the exposure time, to 5 to 30 seconds for the limbs and 15 to 60 seconds for the chest, spine, and thighs8).In the early 1910s, X-ray radiology was taught at several military medical schools6). Knowledge and methods of radiology were also taught in appren-ticeships at universities, hospitals, and clinics6). The importance of education about radiological tech-nology was well recognized by the 1920s. The first two publicly available education programs for radiological technology in Japan were organized by Tokyo Denki (the current Canon Medical Systems Corporation) in 1918 and Shimadzu Corporation in 19216, 9). The contents of the latter can be assumed from X-ray lecture records published by Shimadzu corporation in 1923. They comprise nine volumes by various authors among whom most held academic titles in medicine, engineering, and science10). Among 86 articles in the volumes, the authors of 59 were medical doctors who contrib-45