Objective To review the current status of evidence-base medicine (EBM) research on traditional medicine in Japan. Methods Serial reports of EBM special committee of Japan Society for Oriental Medicine (JSOM) were reviewed. Results EBM special committee of JSOM was established earlier and carried out systematic reviews of Kampo treatment throughout Japan. The quality of preparations was standardized and reliable. Evidence Reports of Kampo Treatment 2009 (EKAT 2009) may be a promising promotion for Kampo treatment in Japan. Conclusion For the promotion and development of evidence-based Chinese medicine in China, we need to learn from EBM research projects of JSOM. Based on the current status of EBM research in China, special efforts should be made in validity of research data and scientific analysis and reports of non-randomized trials. According to the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine, EBM research should be systematically carried out from simple to complex.
The background and status of the quality assessment instruments of clinical trials, and several frequently used instruments both domesticly and abroad were introduced, and the problems in this field were discussed.