The Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology is an academic society that promotes scientific research in clinical cytology and cytopathology and the application of research findings in clinical practice. The society’s beginnings date to 1961.

After modern cytological diagnosis, which began with Georgios Papanikolaou in 1928, was recognized as an effective method of diagnosing uterine cancer, the society’s precursor Nihon Fujinka Saiboshin Danwakai (Japan Gynecological Cytodiagnosis Discussion Group) was formed in Japan in response to the creation of the International Academy of Gynecological Cytology (IAC) in 1957.

When IAC was renamed the International Academy of Cytology in 1961 to reflect advances in other fields, the society likewise adopted the name Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology jointly with the Tokyo Saiboshin Kenkyukai (Tokyo Cytodiagnosis Study Group) and others in 1962.

Today, JSCC is engaged in the science of cytological (especially oncological) diagnosis in all fields, including gynecology, surgery, internal medicine, pathology, and dentistry. Especially noteworthy, JSCC has provided a useful channel for conducting cancer examinations, including exams for uterine cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer. Over the course of its long history, JSCC’s cervical cancer exams in particular have contributed significantly to reducing the fatality rate for cervical cancer. Today JSCC’s scientific activities extend beyond cytomorphological diagnosis to include molecular cytological research on genetic mutation during cancer and atypical expression of cancer genes, automatic cell diagnosis, and the introduction of new technologies, such as telecytology, that support remote medical care.

An important goal of the activities at JSCC is the development and certification of cytology professionals. Cytological diagnosis is performed jointly by a (supervising) medical cytologist and a cytotechnologist. JSCC’s medical cytologist certification is bestowed upon medical doctors (dentists) who pass a medical specialist exam upon completion of JSCC-specified training and production of scientific research. JSCC’s cytotechnologist certification is bestowed upon clinical technologists who pass a cytotechnologist exam following education at a JSCC-approved university or cytotechnologist training institute. JSCC is proud of its long history of certifying medical cytologists since 1968 and cytotechnologists since 1969. Both certifications also qualify these professionals to take exams for international licenses. It is fair to say that these certifications make cytological diagnosis in Japan among the most advanced in the world.