Spending four months in Japan allowed me to learn more about this Far East culture I never thought I could encounter. I came in Japan late August with a very basic knowledge about Japan, about its language and its culture.
I traveled quite a few times through Kansai area and I never saw adverts regarding contraception, protection against AIDS/HIV like I usually see in the western part of the world. I would assume that Japanese don’t feel comfortable to talk about these personal issues- especially not to foreigners since we will never be considered a part of their society no matter how many years we spend here. But what about the birth control? What about the abortion? Is it legal? Is it a taboo subject?
I wanted to discover why and I think I found the answer to some of my questions during these 3 months spend in Japan. I came from an Eastern culture where very many things are similar to Japan. People don’t really receive sexual education about these issues. As a female you may be considered promiscuous if you know too much about sex and its negative sides or how to protect yourself. People do not talk about it. Especially not the older generations who grow up in a different system.
The birth control pill was made legal in Japan in June 1999 after Viagra was legalized 6 months before. Women do not use birth control because they are afraid about the consequences. They are also afraid of what people may say about them and their family if they have the freedom to choose when to have a family by using this modern contraception method. Why is abortion preferred over contraction?
Abortion in Japan is legal, not covered by the national issuance and its costs may vary from $1000 to $2000. Many females use abortion as a contraception method which may be more harmful that the pill. After having an abortion a female usually goes and and solves her moral dilemma by having a mizuko kuyo or or a water child.
I am wondering why Japan which is considered as one of the most developed countries in the world does not use modern contraception methods? Why did the government have to legalize first Viagra and not the birth control pill? I though that Japan is pretty open towards modernization. My impressions towards Japan changed. I am still surprised to see how the government have prejudices against the contemporary issues Japan (and other many countries) are facing nowadays.
References
Coleman, S. (1983). “Chapter 7: Sexuality,” from Family planning in Japanese society, Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 156-183.
Hardacre, H. (1997). Marketing the menacing fetus in Japan. Berkeley University of California Press.
Perrett, R.W. (2000). Buddhism, abortion and the middle way. Asian Philosophy, 10(2), 101-114.
Sahar, G. & Karasawa, K. (2005). Is the personal always political? A cross-cultural analysis of abortion attitudes. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 27(4), 285-296.
Yoshimoto, A. (2009, October 12). Birth control pill still unpopular in Japan. The Japan Times
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