Stem Cells and Japan

In the article "Embryo Controversies and Governing Stem Cell Research in Japan", Sleeboom-Faulkner writes about the discrepancy between what she calls the national discussion on embryonic stem cell research and the (lack thereof) public debate. The former describes discussions orchestrated by the government, including the active participants and stakeholders in the issue, including an amplification of minority sentiments. In Japan, there is a seeming lack of a public debate on ESC research despite much regulatory and ethical debate among the government and academics actively engaged with this field. This is in contrast to much of Europe and the United States, where the moral and religious questions of ESC have shown up in the public debate and the election cycle. Minority groups with active interests in embryonic stem cell research include a few radical religious groups (though their position is not as restrictive as religious groups in the Western world), anti-eugenics movement, and on the opposite spectrum, people who could potentially benefit from stem cell therapy. Their views are loud because they have been amplified by politicians and academicians. Regulation has moved towards promoting research and procuring reproductive materials, with regulation changing in regards to the current state of international research. (I found in interesting that Japan regulate with legislation). This national discussion is also sensitive to the sentiments of the international community and the Western world on ESC research over sentiments at home. However, even if there is a political consensus on how to approach ESC, Sleeboom-Faulkner argues that public confidence and support can not be achieved without public debate, and most of her interviewees agree that a wider public debate is necessary for the success of ESC research.

I thought it was interesting to learn about the ways in which Japan's ESC climate was different from the ESC climate in the United States, where it is my impression that in the United States, ESC research has been a salient public discussion topic and an active topic in the last few election cycles (which I believe to fairly approximate the topics of concern to the general electorate).