Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the first leading cause of long-term disability in Japan. It is necessary to take measures for stroke control for the Government of Japan. 
It is globally recognized that the immediate access to the hyperacute treatment is the key for the better outcome. To achieve this, public awareness of stroke, installation of well equipped stroke centers, and good coordination of emergency medical services and stroke centers are needed.  Some countries take own measures, such as national stroke strategy in the United Kingdom. In Japan, the notification from Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is issued to construct medical system of stroke and the local authorities of the prefectures develop medical care plans of their own regions. Despite the measures taken, there remain regional differences. Stroke morbidity is 1.8 times higher in the worst prefecture as compared to the best, the administration rate of intravenous thrombolysis a quarter in the worst as compared to the best. The Japan Stroke Association (JSA), a public interest incorporated stroke support organization, released an original draft of “Stroke Control Act” in 2009 with other 14 stroke related organization. In 2014, the bill was submitted to the Diet, but scrapped due to a dissolution of the Diet. Now JSA is rewriting the bill to “Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Control Act” in collaboration with the Japanese Circulation Society. The bill would be a powerful driving force to break down the social and legal barriers.

The activity for enacting the Stroke Countermeasures Act by The Japan Stroke Association