Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1
Japanese ABA
By Naoko Sugiyama
The Japanese Association for Behavior Analysis (Japanese-ABA) was created under the name of the Society for the Study of Behavior Analysis in 1979 and changed its name to the Japanese Association for Behavior Analysis in 1983, when its first annual convention was held at Keio University. The main goal of Japanese-ABA is to promote the experimental, theoretical, and applied analysis of behavior, which B. F. Skinner originated. Since its establishment, it has made great strides and is now one of the most successful international chapters of ABAI. The number of its members has reached 849 in 2008 and they come from a wide variety of professions including researchers, school teachers, counselors, social workers, nurses, animal trainers, and business people.
The Japanese-ABA organizes an annual convention, publishes the Japanese Journal of Behavior Analysis twice a year, distributes a newsletter (J-ABA News) four times a year, operates a Web site (http://www.j-aba.jp), and gives workshops/symposium for not only its members, but also open to everyone interested in behavior analysis and its applications. All this is in keeping with our goal of disseminating behavior analysis throughout Japan. We have also been actively collaborating with other academic societies in Japan and promoting international exchanges. Thirty to forty members including students attend ABAI meetings every year.
In 2008, Japanese-ABA elected new board members for 2009-2012 and Professor Kenichi Fuji at Ritsumeikan University was reelected as the President. On April 1st in 2009, it has moved to a new office located in Osaka.
The Japanese-ABA recently started two new programs to encourage young students living in USA as well as in Japan. One is financial support for two students from Japan to attend ABAI annual meetings. The other program is donating books to young Japanese behavior analysts who are studying or working in USA so that they have information about the current status of behavior analysis in Japan.