Abortion in Japan

Memorandums and information about abortion situations and problems in Japan

Kanazawa City Assembly Bill (Opinion Calling for Careful Consideration in the Review of Approval and Use of Oral Abortion Pills)

Translation from original Japanese

Original in Japanese


Opinion Calling for Careful Consideration in the Review of Approval and Use of Oral Abortion Pills


In December 2021, a British pharmaceutical company submitted an application for approval of an oral abortion drug manufactured by the company for use in Japan for the first time. In January of this year, the First Subcommittee of the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare granted approval. However, the Council's Pharmaceutical Affairs Subcommittee will review the application again in March *1 beause of a high level of public interest and the need for more careful deliberation.


The World Health Organization has recognized the safety of oral abortion drugs and designated them as essential medicines that require widespread use, and they have been approved in more than 80 countries and regions overseas.


The oral abortion pills submitted for this application are two different types taken twice before the ninth week of pregnancy: the first drug terminates the pregnancy, depriving the embryo of nutrients and causing a fatal starvation; the second drug, taken after a two-day interval, causes the uterus to contract and excrete its contents from the body, resulting in an artificial miscarriage.


Side effects include abdominal pain similar to childbirth due to the contractions of the uterus, with the possibility of heavy abnormal bleeding and bacterial infections, making it not a safe abortion method for the woman's body and mind. There is also concern that the approval of oral abortion pills may lead to the perception that medication provides an easy way to obtain an abortion.


On the other hand, there are those who say that approving oral abortion pills will give women more options to protect their health and lead to respect for their right to self-determination.


Therefore, in reexamining the issue, the Government of Japan should arouse a wide range of public debate and listen carefully to the opinions of the public. In addition, the government should further strengthen the support system for women suffering from unwanted pregnancies. In addition, in order to protect women's health, it is necessary to take such prudent measures as requiring oral abortion pills only taken under the supervision of a physician designated by the Maternal Body Protection Law.


We submit our opinion in accordance with Article 99 of the Local Autonomy Law.


March 22, 2023


Masato Miyazaki, Chairperson of the Kanazawa City Council, Ishikawa Prefecture

*1:The review, scheduled for March 24, was abruptly postponed.