Institut français de recherche sur le Japon à la Maison franco-japonaise (Umifre 19, MEAE-CNRS)

I will describe how the existence of medical technologies for fertility treatment affects women's decision-making about their lives, especially about having children. I will present some basic data that helps us to understand the reality of reproduction in Japan. For example, Japan is the nation with the largest number of IVF-ET cycles per year. Through the life stories of women who have undergone fertility treatment, I explore the suffering and struggle to live without children caused by infertility, and how they survive these difficulties.

Profile
Azumi Tsuge is a professor at the Department of Sociology, Meiji Gakuin University (Ph.D. in Anthropology, Ochanomizu University). She has studied Medical Anthropology, Bioethics, and STS (Science, Technology and Society) in Japan. Her research has focused on the interrelation between advanced medical technologies and society and culture, including gender analysis by use of qualitative research.

Moderator: Jean-Michel BUTEL (UMIFRE 19-MFJ)
Organization: Bureau français de la MFJ
Co-organization: CCIFJ