Background: Chronic pain is a major health problem, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is its recommended treatment; however, efforts to develop CBT programs for chronic pain and assess their feasibility are remarkably delayed in Asia. Therefore, we conducted this pilot study to develop a basic individualized CBT for chronic pain (CBT-CP) and assessed its feasibility for use in Japan. Methods: Our study was an open-labeled before-after trial without a control group conducted cooperatively in five Japanese tertiary care hospitals. Of 24 outpatients, 15, age 20-80, who experienced chronic pain for at least three months were eligible. They underwent an eight-session CBT-CP consisting of relaxation via a breathing method and progressive muscle relaxation, behavioral modification via activity pacing, and cognitive modification via cognitive reconstruction. The EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire five level (EQ5D-5 L) assessment as the primary outcome and quality of life (QOL), pain severity, disability, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms as secondary outcomes were measured using self-administered questionnaires at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted. Results: Effect size for EQ5D-5 L score was medium from baseline to post-treatment (Hedge's g = − 0.72, 90% confidence interval = − 1.38 to − 0.05) and up to the 3-month follow-up (g = − 0.60, CI = − 1.22 to 0.02). Effect sizes for mental and role/social QOL, disability, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms were medium to large, although those for pain severity and physical QOL were small. The dropout rate was acceptably low at 14%. No severe adverse events occurred. Conclusion: The findings suggest that CBT-CP warrants a randomized controlled trial in Japan.

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This paper constitutes the second part of a cross-cultural study on public space in Alicante, Spain. As in other touristic cities, many places in Alicante are polarised between those catering for visitors and those catering for locals. This ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� public spaces and the reasons why some are preferred by locals, by Japanese visitors, or by both through cross-cultural ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Japanese preferred the same place, it was for different reasons. This suggests that a way of sharing places by locals and visitors in touristic cities may consist of nurturing enough diversity so as to enable different qualities that can respond to the preferences of different people, including preferences as different as those of the Japanese and Spaniards. Keywords: Public Space, KJ method, Qualitative research, Participatory research, Alicante �������������������������� BackgroundThis study constitutes the second part of an on-going research on the public spaces of Alicante, Spain. In this city, a representative case of many