Self-Help Groups in Japan: Historical Development and Current Issues

The purpose of this article is to trace the historical development of self-help groups in Japan, and to discuss current issues that Japanese self-help groups face in their relationships with professionals and in civil society. This particular history is divided into five phases: from ancient times to the 1910s, the 1920s to the early 1950s, the late 1950s through the 1970s, the 1980s to the 1990s, and 2000 and beyond. In addition, the political situations and the influence of Western culture on self-help groups are described. Current issues in self-help groups’ relationships with professionals are caused by the professionals’ disregard for communal learning of “experiential knowledge” through self-help groups, and also their confusion concerning the difference between peer-led self-help groups and professional-led support groups. Furthermore, I discuss problems relating to changes in the Japanese legal status of “public benefit corporation” which impacts self-help groups.