World journal of surgery
-
Japanese students must pass very competitive entrance examinations to enter medical school after graduating from high school at the relatively young age of 18. There are currently 80 medical schools in Japan, with approximately 7700 students graduating annually. Since 2004, after passing the National Medical Board Examination, all medical graduates are required to complete a 2-year period of clinical training to become medical practitioners. ⋯ General surgery board certification is a prerequisite for subspecialty board certification. Notwithstanding these revisions, the number of surgery candidates is steadily declining because work conditions in the surgical profession are viewed as unfavorable. To regain some level of the previous attractiveness and glory of this specialty, surgeons need to receive significant incentives that counteract some of the downsides of the life of a surgeon.