As far as I know, the first Japanese study on selective mutism is "Kuchi wo Kikanai Kodomo" ("Children who don't speak"), published in March 1951 in Jidou Shinri to Seishin Eisei (Child psychology and mental health). The author is Shiro Takagi, who worked in National Kokufudai Hospital.
The literature is based on an examination conducted by Takagi and his colleagues. They examined mental health of elementary school children from January 1949 to March 1950.
Takagi also wrote a study that mentions selective mutism. The one is "Shogakko niokeru Seishin Eiseijou no Mondai nitsuite" ("On mental health problem in elementary school") published in December 1951 in Gakko Hoken no Kenkyu (Studies on school health). The other is "Mondaiji no Hassei Genninron" ("Etiology of children with mental disorders"), published in 1952 in Ijouji (Chindren with mental disorders).
Shiro Nakagawa wrote a study "Sankankogyochiiki niokeru Gakudo no Seishinhoken Igakuteki Kenkyu" ("A psychiatric research into school children in mountainous industrial area") in 1952 in Ijouji (Chindren with mental disorders).
In 1956 Takeshi Goto wrote a case study "Jochosyogai niyoru Kanmokuji nitaisuru Shinriryoho no Ichijirei" ("Psychotherapeutic experience with a mute child") in Osakashiritsudaigaku Kaseigakubu Kiyo (Reports of the science of living). Goto used Allen, H.F.'s non-directive play therapy and succeeded in treating selective mutism.
In 1959 a noteworthy study was published in Kitakanto Igaku (The Kitakanto Medical Journal) . Kikuo Uchiyama wrote "Shoni Kanmokusho nikansuru Kenkyu" ("Studies on the Childhood Mutism"). As far as I know, it is one of the most full-scale study of selective mutism in Japan. His study consists of two studies. The one is about factors of the symptom formation. The other is about therapeutic procedures.
In the 60's more studies of selective mutism were published.
Index of SM in Japan
