[The progress in radiopharmaceuticals in Japan--In connection with the 100-year anniversary after Prof. Röntgen discovered X-ray in 1895].
This year is the 100-year anniversary after Prof. W.K. Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895. In connection with this point, I studied the history of radiopharmaceuticals (RP) in Japan. In 1937, the first cyclotoron was established by Dr. Yoshio Nishina in Tokyo and researches for radioisotope (RI) were started in the medical field in Japan. After the Second World War, RI research in the medical field started again using imported RI from U.S.A. in 1950. The National Institute of Radiological Sciences was established by the Japanese Government in Chiba-city in 1957 and the RP law was enacted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. Twenty-five nuclear elements were regulated as RP by the Pharmaceutical Law in 1959. Five RP products were included for the first time in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP), 7th Edition, in 1961. The Japan Radioisotope Association (JRIA) was established in 1951 for the purpose of importing and distributing RI, technical training for safety operation, collecting the RI wastes and so on. The JRIA is playing an important role in the progress of RP. Now, RP were separated officially for in vivo use and in vitro use in Japan.