“Ancora Imparo”—“I Continue to Learn”

抄録

From its beginning almost 50 years ago, modern Japanese neurological surgery has made great advances. In the past 25 years this has taken place at ever increasing speed. Since I first visited Japan 23 years ago I have seen many changes, not only in neurosurgery but in many other ways. Initially Araki, Tanaka and Shimizu were the leaders. They have now been replaced by their students—Sano, Hajime Handa, and Ishii. The contributions of Japanese neurosurgery to knowledge have been numerous. These have been particularly striking in cerebral vascular diseases. Japan has achieved this success because it has taken advantage of the knowledge developed in other countries. Other changes have occurred. Among these are the remarkable mastery of the English language which has taken place in Japan. Another is the change from authoritarianism in Japan to an attitude of free discussion and exchange of ideas. Japan still has more to contribute. It must open its clinics to young neurosurgeons from the rest of the world. It must develop research designed to solve the problems of cerebral gliomas, cerebral vasospasm, traumatic injury to the brain and spinal cord, and the etiology and prevention of congenital defects of the central nervous system.