Japan has officially approved the sale of an over-the-counter contraceptive pill for the first time, marking a significant policy shift in the traditionally conservative country.
The pill, Norlevo, manufactured by ASKA Pharmaceutical, received government approval for manufacturing and marketing on Monday, October 20, allowing women to purchase emergency contraception without a doctor’s prescription.
For years, rights groups have criticised Japan’s strict prescription requirement for the morning-after pill, arguing that it discouraged many women—particularly rape victims and teenagers—from seeking timely help.
According to The Mainichi Shimbun, there will be no age restrictions or parental consent requirements for purchasing the pill. However, Norlevo will be classified as a “medicine requiring guidance,” meaning it must be taken in the presence of a pharmacist.
The emergency contraceptive is most effective within 72 hours of unprotected sex but becomes less reliable as time passes.
Discussions about non-prescription access began in 2017, and a limited trial was launched in 2019 at just 145 pharmacies—less than 0.2 percent of all outlets nationwide. During the pilot phase, the pill was sold for between 7,000 and 9,000 yen (approximately $47–$60).
Japan’s decision brings it in line with more than 90 other countries where the morning-after pill is already available without prescription. The World Health Organization (WHO) has long urged that emergency contraception be integrated into all national family planning programmes.
