Japan as an “Abortion Paradise”? Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy Between a Demographic Policy Instrument and a Reproductive Right

Abstract

Abstract: Japan as an “Abortion Paradise”? Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy Between a Demographic Policy Instrument and a Reproductive Right – Dubbed an “abortion paradise” in the 1960s for its early legalization and widespread practice of abortion, Japan today presents a fragmented and inadequate legal framework for sexual and reproductive rights. This article traces the evolution of abortion law in Japan, revealing how demographic imperatives, rather than feminist advocacy, shaped its foundations. It highlights the crucial role of civil society and international bodies in resisting regressive reforms and underscores the need for a multidimensional analysis (legal, cultural, and political) to assess reproductive justice and ensure the effective protection of women’s fundamental rights.

Keywords: Abortion; Civil society; Eugenics; Gender equality; Women’s rights.