Barriers to blood donation in Japan

Today, and June 14th annually, is World Blood Donor Day 世界献血者デー. It is an international day dedicated to honoring the people who voluntarily donate blood and to raising awareness about the ongoing need for safe blood supplies.Each year, countries around the world, including Japan via the Japanese Red Cross Society, organize events and campaigns encouraging “voluntary and regular blood donation.” 

However, it is not as easy as you think it might be to donate blood in Japan, especially as a foreigner. Thus, fewer people donate in Japan with an estimation of only 2.3 donations per 1000 people, which is far lower than global standards. The biggest barrier for foreigners living in Japan who want to donate is language. As stated on the Japanese Red Cross English webpage; "we cannot accept donations from individuals who are unable to understand and respond in Japanese."

However, this is not the only barrier. As you can see on the question-and-answer section of City-cost, several people who can speak Japanese - including myself - have tried to donate blood, only to be turned down. One reason quoted is tattoos, but for the majority of people it was because of Mad Cow Disease! Not that we have it, but that we are from countries that had Mad Cow Disease in the past.

This policy exists because the human form of the disease, variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (vCJD), can be transmitted through blood transfusion, and there is still no reliable test to screen donated blood for it. To protect the safety of the blood supply, Japan excludes donors who spent long periods in the UK, France, and certain other European countries during the high‑risk years. 

Thus, even though many foreigners regularly gave blood in their home countries, they are surprised to find there are barriers to donating blood in Japan. Have you ever successfully donated blood in Japan?

Kenketsu Kun, the blood donor mascots of the Japanese Red Cross