Nakayama Naotaka

Naotaka Nakayama（中山直隆） (1917–2005) was an acupuncturist. He was born in a famous acupuncturist family known as "Kiyamachi no Hari" in Kyoto, Japan, predecessors include Kiku (19th century), Naojiro were among them. He served for various executive positions of the Acupuncturist Association of Kyoto since 1948, the president 1986–1992. He also served as a president of the Academic Society of Acupuncture of Kyoto 1980-1993.

After World War II, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine were considered as uncivilized acts by GHQ during occupation of Japan, lost the social position as a medical treatment and almost forgotten in Japan (dark age). He contributed to social re-establishment of acupuncture as important health care treatments. Not only his practice and academic activity gained social recognition, he worked to gain insurance coverage by National Health Care Insurance for acupuncture treatments that later partially granted. Owe to his and others efforts as well as social circumstances; in the end of the last century acupuncture regain social status in Japan. In the beginning of 21 century, acupuncture became popular and commonly practiced in Japan.

He received various awards and medals including from Governors of Kyoto, the Minister of Health and Welfare of Japan, and the Emperor of Japan.

References and sources

Award from the Minister of Health and Welfare of Japan: 1988 December issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. (厚生大臣表彰　”あはぎ法制定４０周年功労者”発行日本厚生省1988 December). Medal from the Emperor of Japan. The Imperial Household Agency of Japan, 1992.