The Research Of Japan’s Health Insurance Law

In April 1922,Japan’s Health Insurance Law was passed by a parliamentary vote and was officially promulgated and implemented on January 1,1927.This law is the first modern social insurance law in Japan and the first mature social security related practice implemented by Asian countries.This article,taking the dissemination and development of Japanese social security thoughts as the context,mainly analyzes the development process of social security theory behind the legislation of the Health Insurance Law in Japan,the practical process of jointly promoting the promulgation of the Law by Japanese officials and people,the practical basis and historical background of domestic social security related legislation in Japan,the legislative process of the Health Insurance Law,and the evaluation of it by Japanese academia,Explore the historical significance of the Health Insurance Law for the development of Japanese society and social security undertakings.This article is divided into three parts:The first part is the preparatory elements for the legislation of the Health Insurance Law,which roughly combs the development process of the world’s social security ideology.Japan’s social security began with the translation and introduction of Western works.After learning from the social security theory and legislative practice of Britain,Germany,and other countries,it gradually explored Japan’s own social security practice.With the gradual familiarity and acceptance of social security ideology and theories by the Japanese government,the accumulated experience of enterprise employers in employee labor insurance,and the legislative attempts and implementation of relevant legislation by the government on social security,Japan has initially possessed the basic conditions for the introduction of national level social insurance laws.The second part is the legislative process and content of the Health Insurance Law.After analyzing the historical background of Japan’s workers facing poverty and disease,the vigorous development of trade unions,and the medical conditions available to enterprises,this article concludes that the legislative conditions for this law have been met,and the legislative timing is urgent.Under the joint impetus of the upsurge of social movements in Japan and the internal efforts of the government to alleviate social conflicts,the Outline of the Health Insurance Act completed the entire legislative process of drafting,expert review,parliamentary approval,and enactment into the Outline of the Health Insurance Act in a very short time.The haste of legislative time and the government’s legal content of favoring the management have caused widespread dissatisfaction and resistance among workers.Although the implementation of the law was delayed due to the Kanto earthquake and other reasons,the final implemented bill did not make adjustments at the request of workers.In order to implement the law more effectively,the Japanese government has ultimately handed the insurance operation to the police department.The third part is about the characteristics and historical significance of the Health Insurance Law.Taking a comprehensive view of the analysis and evaluation of the Law by the Japanese business and academic circles from different perspectives,it is concluded that the Health Insurance Law has four characteristics,and reflects the historical significance of the Health Insurance Law for Japan’s social and social security system.Firstly,the Health Insurance Law made a certain contribution to the economic and social development of Japan at that time.Secondly,the Health Insurance Law has taken the most important step from theory to practice in Japanese social security.Thirdly,the Health Insurance Law is not only the first social insurance law in Japan and even Asia,but also marks the beginning of changes in Japan’s social policy.Fourthly,the Health Insurance Law has promoted the development of Japan’s medical industry,leading to the socialization of the medical system and the equalization of medical opportunities.Lastly,the Health Insurance Law promoted the awakening of the Japanese labor class.Although Japan’s Health Insurance Law has been criticized for its content and effectiveness,and as the domestic situation in Japan changes,its legal nature has gradually shifted from mediating labor and capital conflicts to serving militarist wars,it has opened the way for the development of Japan’s social insurance system and established the characteristics of Japan’s health insurance system with the state as the main body,It has had an important impact on the development of Japanese social security theory and practice,and has certain historical significance.