Abortion pill: Why Japanese women will need their partner's consent to get a tablet
In May, a senior health ministry official told parliament it was finally set to approve an abortion pill manufactured by British pharmaceutical company Linepharma International.
But he also said that women will still need to "gain the consent of their partner" before the pills can be administered - a stipulation pro-choice campaigners have called patriarchal and outdated.
Medical abortions, using pills rather than surgery, were made legal in France 34 years ago. Britain approved them in 1991, and the US in 2000.
In many European countries this is now the most common form of terminating a pregnancy - pills account for more than 90% of abortions in Sweden, and around 70% in Scotland.
But Japan, a country with a poor record on gender equality, has a history of being extremely slow to approve drugs related to women's reproductive health. ...continue reading
More kids showing signs of premature aging
Japan Today - Sep 26
Myopia. Fatty liver. Lumbago. High blood pressure due to obesity. Skeletal problems.
How Advanced Is Education in Japan
newsonjapan.com - Sep 26
The Land of the Rising Sun is considered one of the world's most educated and productive countries.
Bon Odori Dance Festival | Japan Travel | Local Traditional Culture
Kimono Mom - Sep 25
Today is the day of the Awa Odori dance. It is the largest dance festival in Japan and one of the traditional performing arts with a history of about 400 years.
Does Japan have a plastic problem?
Life Where I'm From - Sep 25
It's not uncommon to go to the produce section of a grocery store and see most of the items wrapped in plastic.
47 Prefectures - 都道府県（とどうふけん）| Japanese vocabulary
Ninjapanese - Sep 25
You will learn 47 Prefectures of Japan with pictures and pronunciation.
Young women in Japan want fewer than 2 children, 1st time since 1940
Kyodo - Sep 24
Most young women in Japan who are hoping to get married want only one child or none at all, the first time in postwar history that the average number of desired births has fallen below two, according to a survey, adding to concern about the country's rapidly graying population.
Circles of stone: exploring the monuments of Jomon Japan
the-past.com - Sep 22
he Jomon peoples of northern Japan were unusual among foraging societies for being great monument-builders.
Japan saw fewer than 400,000 births in Jan.-June, 1st in 22 yrs given COVID
Kyodo - Sep 20
The number of babies born in Japan and to Japanese expatriates in the January to June period fell 5.0 percent from a year earlier to fewer than 400,000 for the first time since 2000, amid the lingering impact of the coronavirus pandemic, recent government data showed.
Teacher admits adding bleach to school lunch
News On Japan - Sep 18
TOKYO, Sep 18 (News On Japan) - A 24-year-old female teacher at an elementary school in Fujimi City, Saitama Prefecture, has been arrested for adding bleach to a school lunch curry.
Japan to face a shortage of nearly 1 million medical and welfare staff in 2040
Japan Times - Sep 16
Japan looks set to face a shortage of 960,000 medical and welfare service workers in 2040, when the country’s elderly population is expected to peak, according to an annual welfare ministry report released Friday.
More Japanese youth want to remain single; women cite career setbacks post childbirth
WION - Sep 15
Japan is facing a new demographic challenge. The youth there do not want to get married, the finding was published after a new poll was conducted in the age group of 18 to 34.
Researchers say best way to soothe crying infant is by carrying them on 5-minute walk
miragenews.com - Sep 14
Most parents have experienced frustration when their infants cry excessively and refuse to sleep. Scientists have found that the best strategy to calm them down is by holding and walking with them for five minutes.
