[History of blood transfusion--development and future of blood transfusion in Japan].

Blood was mentioned as possible therapeutic measures throughout human history. However modern blood transfusion medicine has developed only during the 20th century. In Japan, blood transfusion was tried since 1919 by several surgeons who had experienced during World War I in Europe. In 1930, the Prime Minister, Osachi Hamaguchi, was shot and became shock for intra-abdominal bleeding. He was saved by the blood transfusion by his son. This affair made Japanese people know the value of blood transfusion. After World War II (1945), blood transfusion has come into wide use in Japan. But posttransfusion infections, for example, hepatitis virus and human immunodeficiency virus I infection have been big problems these 30 years. We must try to make this life-saving treatment safer whenever possible.