{"id":335613,"date":"2025-08-01T16:48:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T21:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=335613"},"modified":"2025-08-01T00:00:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T05:00:07","slug":"why-japan-resist-legalize-assisted-dying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/why-japan-resist-legalize-assisted-dying\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Japan continues to resist pressure to legalize &#8216;assisted dying&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Japan, pressure to legalize assisted suicide (or &#8220;assisted dying&#8221;) at the national level has intensified over the years, sparked by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prospectmagazine.co.uk\/ideas\/a-good-death\/68857\/why-japan-struggles-with-assisted-dying\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high-profile cases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and anti-life <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2023\/may\/08\/plan-75-ageing-japan-euthanasia-suicide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">narratives<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">regarding \u201cindividual autonomy\u201d about when to die.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite some regional courts&#8217; efforts to create allowances for assisted suicide, national policy and top judicial authorities have resisted attempts to legalize it on a national scale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is likely that a combination of factors unique to Japan \u2014 long-standing cultural and legal traditions, alarmingly high suicide rates (as compared to the rest of the world), and bleak demographic realities (aging society and low birth rates) \u2014 have led to legitimate concerns about the ramifications of legalizing any kind of assisted dying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Japan is experiencing pressure to legalize &#8216;assisted dying&#8217; as other countries are, but many factors unique to the country have thus far prevented this.<\/li>\n<li>An aging population, low birth rates, and higher suicide rates than other countries all add to resistance against legalizing assisted suicide in Japan.<\/li>\n<li>Assisted dying has not found favor in higher Japanese courts.<\/li>\n<li>The influences of <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confucianism, Shintoism, and Buddhism also contribute to resistance against legalizing assisted dying.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Legalizing assisted dying in Japan will not benefit anyone and will not increase respect for life. Instead, efforts should be made to support palliative care and to learn and address the root causes driving suicide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The Context:<\/h2>\n<h3><b>Japan\u2019s Demographic Crisis: Falling Birth Rates<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japan is experiencing a\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&amp;context=geog_masterpapers\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">demographic winter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0with a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eastasiaforum.org\/2024\/03\/05\/combating-depopulation-in-japan\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rapidly aging and declining population<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com\/2023\/01\/japans-population-crisis-nears-point-of-no-return\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">record-low birth rates<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 2024 report published by <a href=\"https:\/\/eastasiaforum.org\/2024\/03\/05\/combating-depopulation-in-japan\/\">East Asia Forum<\/a> elaborated on some of the reasons leading to Japan\u2019s current population predicament:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several reasons for this depopulation. One is the high economic cost of having and raising children. This is a particularly acute problem for low-income households, in which the wage earners are often non-regular workers. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a report on household income by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the average disposable income of a household headed by a non-regular worker is<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apj.aidem.co.jp\/current\/detail\/1835.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> approximately 60 per cent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of one headed by a regular worker. This problem may reflect a widening income gap. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another reason is changing lifestyles. In the past, a typical family was a man and a woman who get married before they are 30 and then have children. The wife raises these children while the husband earns an income. This pattern changed as people began to pursue their own aspirations and society began to accept diversity. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reflecting this change, the number of marriages per 1000 people <a href=\"https:\/\/www5.cao.go.jp\/j-j\/wp\/wp-je23\/h06_hz020205.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">declined from<\/a> 10 in 1970 to 6.4 in 2000 and to 4.1 in 2022.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consequently, Japan\u2019s demographic crisis <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/theeconreview.com\/2024\/04\/03\/japans-demographic-crisis-an-aging-population-and-possible-solutions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">threatens<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to derail the social and economic foundations and the country&#8217;s long-term national sustainability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Suicide Rates and Societal Vulnerabilities<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nippon.com\/en\/japan-data\/h02293\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">downward trend in 2024<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Japan&#8217;s suicide rate remains relatively high (compared to that of other countries) at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/15604248\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16.3 per 100,000 people in 2024<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with over 20,000 suicides reported \u2014\u00a0including a disturbing number among school-age children. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, the consequences of \u201ckaroshi\u201d (death from overwork) and \u201ckarojisatsu\u201d (suicide from overwork) also impose a burden on working adults in Japan, in the wake of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net\/40355054\/Mental_disorders_and_suicide_in_Japan_A_20151124-18518-1lgl5ze-libre.pdf?1448469117=&amp;response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DMental_disorders_and_suicide_in_Japan_A.pdf&amp;Expires=1753967409&amp;Signature=KFGkl-jgmODVRVouWCItYtFarceRKvoo96ezgR41rfa4c0BmGY~2Fb3V1rdD1J~62Eqjc6S6Ndxc3yllfss12~MXt6CQhx2QRvmB81UcprOW0Dese9EEfizuSNTUX8REmK0AexkpxVD44regGuYoOH-MTfvYJ6HDrcaUDETeHeDLRwnDq~KMomDyWgCxu-zDOkxjAjpEnzGVR6Xw~AA77qsLvPQ3BsFTiLSCmdfApvQNWmIv4aWDCpPWGCEPE3WrTWLUzuS-gjQJakW1zn3UO1L3sjsM60EkQxLokBrts5sdAnYiYPkCGtYoiBMNXEPe8FzRpvhSg1BkeNqykuXQ-Q__&amp;Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chronic mental stress<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2666915322001172\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">insufficient social support systems<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What&#8217;s Happening:<\/h2>\n<h3><b>Assisted Dying in the Court System<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the years, various Japanese regional courts have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/tohoku.elsevierpure.com\/en\/publications\/voluntary-assisted-death-in-present-day-japan-a-case-for-dignity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tried<\/span><\/a> t<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">o tackle <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/11200074_Euthanasia_assisted_suicide_and_cessation_of_life_support_Japan%27s_policy_law_and_an_analysis_of_whistle_blowing_in_two_recent_mercy_killing_cases\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cases<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of voluntary euthanasia, stipulating in detail the criteria for what would make it an \u201cacceptable\u201d practice. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, such efforts are not legally set in stone at the national level, and national courts have issued strict sentences to physicians involved in helping patients ti due.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In March 2024, the Kyoto District Court sentenced Dr. Yoshikazu Okubo to 18 years in prison for the deaths of two people, including the killing of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who had requested for\u00a0 the doctor to end her life. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court ruled that Okubo was guilty of murdering the woman by administering a fatal amount of a drug via a gastric feeding tube, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asahi.com\/ajw\/articles\/15188537\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">according to<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> media outlet Asahi Shimbun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later in the year, in November 2024, Presiding Judge Hidenori Nagai of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/news\/2024\/11\/25\/japan\/crime-legal\/als-patient-murder-trial\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Osaka High Court<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">upheld the ruling made by the Kyoto District Court, dismissing the defense\u2019s appeal to acquit Okubo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In remarks <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/news\/2024\/11\/25\/japan\/crime-legal\/als-patient-murder-trial\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cited<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by The Japan Times, Nagai stated that there was no proof that Okubo conducted an examination of his patient, elaborating that \u201cthere is no room to recognize (it was) socially appropriate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Osaka High Court\u2019s decision to regard Okubo as guilty of murder is reflective of how assisted dying remains\u00a0 judicially and politically unendorsed at the national level.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Cultural Resistance to Assisted Dying<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the context of a non-Christian society like Japan, it is imperative to note that it is not the Christian belief that a human being has an immortal soul that prevents others from supporting assisted dying for individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cultural influences of Confucianism, Shintoism, and Buddhism mean that Japanese society traditionally has a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/think.iafor.org\/buddhism-death-japanese-society\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strong aversion<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to openly discussing end-of-life issues. Shintoism and Confucian beliefs portray death as a taboo subject, further preventing direct conversations about it; such <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prospectmagazine.co.uk\/ideas\/a-good-death\/68857\/why-japan-struggles-with-assisted-dying\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">aversion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to talking also translates into a wider resistance to the idea of assisted dying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thoughtco.com\/filial-piety-in-chinese-688386\">filial piety<\/a> (as influenced by Confucianism), societal harmony, and family-focused decision making in Japan often mean that both patients and their families are heavily influenced not to undergo actions perceived as contradicting these values. Even if patients were to articulate their desires to stop life-prolonging treatment, their wishes may be dwarfed by societal norms regarding the preservation of life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many have reservations that legalizing assisted dying could expedite Japanese society\u2019s attitudes on \u201cgiving up\u201d on the elderly or infirm, especially considering the country\u2019s aging population. In addition, given the country\u2019s high suicide rates, it is unsurprising that appearing to be \u201csuicide assistance,\u201d even under medical pretexts, is met with suspicion and reservations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Bottom Line:<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given Japan\u2019s unique historical, demographic, cultural, and legal context, more efforts should be made in promoting the value and dignity of life and preventing assisted dying. Instead, the country should invest more in providing quality palliative care and broaden support for families, the elderly, and the infirm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In light of Japan\u2019s ongoing struggle to prevent suicide, lawmakers should increase their focus on addressing the root causes driving people to suicide and improve the quality of life for Japanese citizens, rather than go down the dark path of assisted dying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><i>Follow Live Action News on <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/liveactionnewsonline\/\"><b><i>Facebook<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> and <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/LiveActionOrg\/\"><b><i>Instagram<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> for more pro-life news.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Japan, pressure to legalize assisted suicide (or &#8220;assisted dying&#8221;) at the national level has intensified over the years, sparked by high-profile cases and anti-life narratives regarding \u201cindividual autonomy\u201d about when to die.\u00a0 Despite some regional courts&#8217; efforts to create allowances for assisted suicide, national policy and top judicial authorities have resisted attempts to legalize [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1007,"featured_media":335614,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[15,5,4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why Japan continues to resist pressure to legalize &#039;assisted dying&#039;<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pressure to legalize assisted dying in Japan has grown, sparked by high-profile cases and anti-life narratives about \u201cindividual autonomy.&quot;\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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