Last week’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its landmark 1973 decision that deemed abortion a constitutional right has reignited the controversial debate over access to the procedure in the United States.
In Japan, where abortion is relatively accessible, it is rarely a political issue like in other countries. Nonetheless, there are various issues women face if they decide to have an abortion.
Experts and women’s rights advocates in Japan say that the nation’s abortion laws are problematic mostly on two counts: married women seeking an abortion need spousal consent, and the procedure used is unsafe and costly.