There has been serious confusion between the terms "infantile autism" and "emotional disorders" in Japan, especially as pertains to special education classes. Special classes for emotionally disturbed children began in Japan in 1969 with a rapid increase to over 2000 classes by the 1980's. However, most of the children attending such classes were autistic rather than emotionally disturbed. The American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (III) proposed the classification of autism under the heading "Pervasive Developmental Disorders." Appropriate educational treatment is different for autistic and emotionally disturbed children. Although practical reasons originally led to naming the special class group "emotionally disturbed," the differences between emotionally disturbed and autistic children need to be recognized and appropriate services provided to each group. (Author/DB)