Japan has officially approved the over-the-counter sale of an emergency contraceptive pill for the first time, marking a significant shift in the country’s reproductive health policy.
The pill, Norlevo, manufactured by ASKA Pharmaceutical, was granted manufacturing and marketing approval on Monday, October 20, allowing women to access it without a doctor’s prescription.
For years, rights groups have criticised Japan’s strict regulations, arguing that requiring women to visit clinics for the morning-after pill discouraged many from seeking help — particularly teenage girls and victims of sexual assault.
According to The Mainichi Shimbun, the pill will have no age restrictions or parental consent requirements, though women will be required to take it in the presence of a pharmacist since it is classified as “medicine requiring guidance.”
Norlevo is most effective when taken within 72 hours after sex but becomes less reliable over time. Japan began discussions about non-prescription access in 2017 and launched a limited trial two years ago at just 145 pharmacies, a small fraction of the country’s total. The pill was priced between 7,000 and 9,000 yen (about $47–$60) during the trial.
With this decision, Japan joins more than 90 countries where emergency contraception is available without a prescription. The World Health Organization has consistently urged that such medication be integrated into national family planning programmes to expand access and support women’s reproductive rights.
