Japan Approves Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraceptive Trial

Facts

• On Tuesday, local media reported that Japan’s health ministry had approved the sale of over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pills, commonly referred to as “morning-after pills,” on a trial basis through next March.¹
• A health ministry panel approved the sale of such pills without a prescription at pharmacies with trained pharmacists, private rooms, and wide availability. The pharmacies must also be able to coordinate with local obstetricians and gynecologists.²
• Japan’s current laws require women to receive a prescription from a clinic or hospital to take emergency contraceptive pills, which are most effective within 72 hours after intercourse.³
• Non-prescription emergency contraceptives are permitted in roughly 90 countries, and studies show they are 80% effective. A few months ago, the health ministry solicited public feedback on the potential trial sale, receiving 46,312 comments, the majority of which were positive.⁴
• Monday’s approval comes amid a wave of sweeping changes to Japan’s policy surrounding women’s sexual and reproductive issues. Earlier this month, parliament broadened the definition of rape while raising the age of consent.⁵
• The move also comes just months after the abortion pill was approved in April, before which Japan only permitted surgical abortions in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.³

Sources: ¹Japan Today, ²The Japan Times, ³Guardian, ⁴Kyodo News+, and ⁵WION.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by Bloomberg. While a step in the right direction, Japan still lags far behind many countries as its male-dominated society neglects women’s issues. Japan’s abortion laws have been far too restrictive, and it has a very problematic history when it comes to approving other contraceptives like birth control. While the approval of non-prescription emergency contraceptive pills is a positive development, much more work needs to be done to advance reproductive rights in Japan.
• Right narrative, as provided by UCA News. Under the guise of advancing contraception, Japan is pushing access to abortion, which isn't only tragic as it always ends a human life before it can even start, but it also amounts to a systematic depopulation of Japan. Pro-abortionists always talk about the most extreme scenarios when trying to justify the procedure but never account for the repercussions. Japan loses 140K babies a year due to abortion, and that is a moral and economic tragedy for a country with a rapidly declining population and birth rate.

Predictions