[A pioneer in occupational therapy at mental hospitals in local cities (approaches at Shichiyama Hospital at the beginning of Taisho Era)].

Occupational therapy at mental hospitals in Japan began in 1901, when Shuzo Kure created two sewing rooms in the female section of Sugamo Hospital and allowed patients to sew pillowcases and hospital gowns for use at the hospital. In 1904, Sugamo Hospital added a work section, and occupational therapy became an official part of the hospital. In addition, Kure stated in The Complete Book of Japanese Internal Medicine (Nihon Naika Zensho), published in 1916, that occupational therapy had also become popular at other mental hospitals; however, he did not refer to specifics, such as information on what kind of occupational therapy was being carried out at which hospital.