Presentation Schedule
Egg Donation in Japan: Legal Uncertainty, Proposed Legislation, and Its Social Impact (94319)
Session Chair: Chiaki Shirai
Tuesday, 13 May 2025 15:00
Session: Session 1
Room: Room 603 (6F)
Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
The introduction of the Specified Assisted Reproductive Medicine Bill in Japan’s House of Councillors has sparked significant concern among individuals considering, undergoing, or who have already formed their families through third-party reproduction. Despite longstanding calls for legal clarity, the proposed legislation imposes severe restrictions, particularly on those seeking sperm, egg, or embryo donation, as well as surrogacy. This paper focuses on the implications for egg donation. Since donor insemination began in Japan in 1948, third-party reproduction has operated without a clear legal framework. While the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology has issued guidelines, access remains highly restricted, with only a few clinics openly offering treatment. Historically, secrecy has been the norm, contributing to persistent stigma. Many stakeholders, including intended parents and those who have already become parents through third-party reproduction, donor-conceived individuals, and medical professionals, had long hoped for legal reforms that would provide clarity and protection. However, the proposed bill not only restricts access to legally married heterosexual couples but also imposes strict criminal penalties on the exchange of compensation, effectively prohibiting most egg donation and surrogacy where financial arrangements are often involved. This places individuals seeking treatment in a precarious position, forcing them to either abandon their pursuit of parenthood or risk legal penalties, including extraterritorial prosecution, to access reproductive care. This study, from a sociology of law perspective, examines how third-party reproduction policies in Japan are being formulated with little regard for the voices of those directly affected, reflecting legislative priorities rather than societal realities.
Authors:
Eiko Saeki, Hosei University, Japan
About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Eiko Saeki is an Associate Professor of Sociology in the Faculty of Sustainability Studies at Hosei University, Japan.
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