FETAL SPIRITHOOD AND FETAL PERSONHOOD - THE CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION OF ABORTION IN JAPAN

Despite a high incidence of abortion and a declining birthrate in Japa n, there is not a large or well-supported pro-life movement there. Due to the Japanese concept of fetal spirithood, the American abortion ri ghts discourse, which centers on the rights of women versus the rights of the fetus, is not salient in Japan. Focusing on the context of Jap an, this article explores the history of abortion as culturally accept able birth control, religious rituals performed to appease demands mad e by aborted fetuses' spirits, and the incidence of mother-child homic ide-suicide.