Nearly a month has passed since the Japan Red Cross Society stopped giving gift coupons to blood donors, and now concerns are being raised that the move will result in fewer younger people providing blood.
The Red Cross had traditionally given telephone cards or gift coupons for such items as books, magazines, compact discs or beer to blood donors in an effort to increase donations.
It decided to terminate this practice, however, when a new law was enacted in July to ban the sale of blood and to help make Japan self-sufficient in its supply of both blood and blood products. The ban on blood sales took effect this month, and the law will be fully enforced next July.