An early history of Japanese amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the current significance.

: The present review focuses an early history of Japanese amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the current significance in comparison to previously known and newly found reports on Japanese ALS. After a preliminary case report of ALS by Masamichi Hirai on 1890, 2 completed reports were simultaneously published within 2 weeks of 1891 by Momojiro Nakamura and Zenjiro Inoue, followed by Eikichi Watanabe's report on 1892. After Shonosuke Hasegawa's and Hiroshi Kawahara's case reports on 1894-1896, Aihiko Sata first reported an autopsy case of ALS on 1897. The great contribution of Kinnosuke Miura was also introduced for the naming and pathogenesis in the early stage of ALS history in Japan during 1893-1911.