The thesis attempts to ascertain the attitudes towards contraception and abortion in Japan in the 21. century through comprehensive analysis of their history from 1990 until 2025, research into current attitudes and trends in usage of both and into barriers that might pose limits to women trying to gain access to reproductive health services and exercising their reproductive rights. While abortion was legalized early compared to other countries, the path to legalization of oral contraceptives took longer in comparison. Abortion in Japan was legalized in 1948, while oral contraceptives were only approved for usage in 1999. Despite the legalization of both abortion and oral contraception in Japan there are still barriers to their effective usage. The second aim of this thesis is to research how those barriers affect women’s access to reproductive health services and research possible solutions.
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