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

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.