In the 1960s Japanese agriculture faced serious problems of soil pollution with As, Cd and other elements. Comprehensive investigations have been carried out on soil pollution and related subjects. The 1 M HCL/extraction method for diagnosing arsenic pollution in rice fields, the theoretical multi-step extraction method for zinc and other elements were developed during the period 1974-1983. The methods for evaluating soils with micronutrient deficiency were developed during the same period. This report reviews the development of applicable soil tests for such purposes in the last 20 years by Japanese soil scientists and explains why the content of extractable soil cadmium has not been adopted as a criterion of Cd toxicity in the pollution control law.