Radiation emergency medicine,” in the modern sense of the word, began in Japan
with the reception, triage, and overall medical management of three victims from
the Tokai-mura criticality accident in 1999. Following this event, Japan’s radiation
emergency medical preparedness and response system had been drastically restructured.
It was the system unique to Japan, coincident with its Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) system, and comprised the echelon of facilities and care from primary
to tertiary. At the same time, a well-structured training program has been
actively carried out since 2001, targeting medical, EMS personnel, local offi cials,
and others for the fi rst response to radiological emergencies.