Selected References on Abortion Law and Access in Japan

This reference list provides key academic articles, international reports, and policy documents that informed my presentation at the 5th IWAC to be held in February 2026 in Bangkok.

References on Abortion in Japan (selected, English-language)

1. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Concluding observations on the ninth periodic report of Japan. United Nations, 2024.

2. Waseda University Law Review. Abortion and spousal consent in Japan. 2023.

3. Asia Safe Abortion Partnership (ASAP). Country profile: Japan. 2022.

4. Terao T. Legalization of abortion in Japan and its historical background. JMAJ. 2012;55(5): 387–391.

5. Ōtani T. Population policy and abortion law in postwar Japan. Atlantis Journal. 2019.

6. Norgren T. Abortion before birth control: The politics of reproduction in postwar Japan. Princeton University Press; 2001.

7. Kakinuma T, et al. Management of miscarriage in Japan: nationwide survey on current practices. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20: 525.

8. Kakinuma T, et al. Use of dilatation and curettage versus vacuum aspiration in Japan: trends and implications. J Perinat Med. 2022;50(7): 863–870.

9. Osuga Y, et al. Short-term efficacy and safety of early medical abortion in Japan: A multicenter prospective study. Reproductive Medicine and Biology. 2023;22(1):e12512. DOI:10.1002/rmb2.12512.

10. Goto A, et al. Implementation of medical abortion in Japan following regulatory approval. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2025;41:100879.

11. Kaneda Y, et al. Medical abortion approval in Japan: progress and challenges. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(2):228–234.

12. Sorano S, et al. Will approval of abortion pills in Japan reduce barriers? Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2022;156(3):556–557.

13. Terauchi F, Kimura T. Response to Sorano et al. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2022;156(3):558.

14. de Londras F, et al. Third-party authorization requirements and their impact on access to abortion. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2023;161(S1):53–60.

15. Rowlands S. Spousal consent for abortion: comparative perspectives in East Asia. Contraception. 2025;127:110–117.

16. Hardacre H. Marketing the Menacing Fetus in Japan. University of California Press; 1997.

17. International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion. Japan country archive. 2022–2025. (includes the author’s own article “Symbolic progress isn’t enough: Japan after approval of abortion pills”, 2025).

The following photo is from the official IWAC 2026 website.（https://www.womenhealth.or.th/）