Technical associate
Technical associate （ja:専門士） is the past English name of "Senmonshi", the Japanese original academic degree. This academic degree was given to the graduates who graduated the certified vocational schools such as a "Senmon-gakkō" which means a professional training colleges and a "Senshu gakko" which means a specialized training colleges. It was established in 1994. In 2006, Technical associate was changed to "Diploma" because its name is more common and known in English spoken countries and it was hard to understand its true value for the foreigners.
