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Thread: Help-requests: current AIDS-education in Japan

  1. #1
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    Default Help-requests: current AIDS-education in Japan

    Hello everyone,

    I have to write a term paper about how Japanese government responded to the AIDS pandemic, but there is very little information in the library that is up to date, and AIDS data changes so fast, I can't use any of them. I would really appreciate any help from members here who live in Japan.

    If you live in Japan, is there any chance you can send me current pamphlets/ other AIDS-education related materials? I will be happy to mail money order for the postage cost and any other expenses related to acquiring the AIDS-education materials. If you are kind enough to help me out, please PM me, or e-mail me at raccoon@uvic.ca and I will give you my postal address.

    If that's too inconvinient, I would apprecaite any comment on the folloing observations:

    I've read a few articles about AIDS/ HIV having a late start in Asia, and that Japanese government had kept his head in the sand until it's too late. According to one source, the Japanese government banned media coverage on HIV cases in Japan early in the epidemic, and denied some of the earliest reports of death due to AIDS.

    According to another source, AIDS-education materials in Japan before 1997 were mostly finger-pointing material, attributing AIDS to foreigners, especially foreign sex workers. Is that still how it is nowadays? Or has that changed?

    One AIDS-education article/ illustration on Asahi shimbun (pre-1997) also seem to suggest that monogamous sex is safe sex, without paying any attention to the (I assume) fact that uwagi is quite common in Japan, especially for business men. I personally read it as misinformation that house wife can feel safe from HIV as long as she only sleeps with her husband, and that she won't need condom protection. The writer then inform us that in Japan, wife has no legal right to refuse sex or demand condom use from her husband, even if she suspects he might have contracted HIV; is it still true now? (or was it ever true?)

    The same article also point out that (before 1997) there were virtually no AIDS education material that targets homosexual audience. Is that still how it is?

    When I was chatting with fellow university classmate from Japan (who moved to Canada for 6 years now) about enjo kousai, and I ask her if the kids were ever concerned about AIDS, she actually told me "Unlike Canada, AIDS is not a problem in Japan." Is that attitude still common in Japan? Or is there a higher level of awareness now?

    Also, according to a few sources, Japanese government had forced blood screening of foreigners, and deported many of them when they are found to be HIV positive (early 90's). Any comment about this approach?

    For those of you who are living in Japan now, what is the AIDS-awareness like in general public? How is it politicized? What's the stigma attached to it?

    Lastly, I am under the impression that homosexuality has always been tolerated in Japan, but seldom if ever talked about. Is it true? Have you seen any AIDS related info that targets homosexual audience in Japan?


    Any comments welcome. Thanx in advance!

    -Cody
    -C. Chu
    ============================
    ‘¸Œh?AŠ´ŽÓ?A”E‘Ï

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    Hi Cody,

    I haven't seen any AIDS information meant for the general public in print or electronic media or other media at all in the past several years over here. Just this week I was watching an NHK programme for excellence in TV shows. They were really talking up a Canadian show aimed at teens called "Street Cents" that, among other things, discussed both AIDS and sexual orientation fairly matter-of-factly. I've personally seen many Australian-made programmes in the same genre since my early teens in my home country, but this was a first over here. One regular NHK talk show called "Shaberi-ba" features youths talking about issues affecting them, so it may have covered AIDS in the past too.

    As an aside, I've had to refer people to doctors for STD testing in the past. Interestingly, while a big city like Tokyo may have an STD/AIDS clinic, in most places around Japan, the majority of STDs are treated by urologists, with it being extremely rare for a clinic to open specialising in "STDs".

    I think you're spot on with your observation about a view existing that foreigners are the cause of STDs, despite remedies appearing to have existed in Japan before the arrival of non-Chinese/Korean foreigners.

    BTW, uwaGi is Jacket; uwaKi is adultery.

    All the best with your research,
    Daniel Lee

  3. #3
    T'ai Ji Monkey Guest

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    Hi Cody.

    I haven't seen much in relation to AIDS since I have been here.

    It would surprise me if there was much done considering the spread of STD's among young people over here.
    Also considering that things like "russian roulette sex" and similar are happening.


    Article

    Not directly related to your question, but it might help.
    There are quiet a few eye-opening articles there.

    Cheers.

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    There's not a lot around but I'll check.
    Lurking in dark alleys may be hazardous to other peoples health........

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    Hi people,

    Thanx for the responses, and for correcting the spelling x_x I am hopeless with the tenten (or are they denden?)

    Daniel brought up an interesting obserbation: most clinic still do not have specialists for (or will not openly admit they treat) AIDS. In the pre-1997 collections of newspaper cutting (asahi shimbun) that I was able to find, a manga stripe shows an embarrassed doctor and a nurse, with a big drop of sweat, trying to hide behind each other, with a big "E-I-ZU" printed on top. The caption says, "image down, patients won't come". It seems that clinics/ hospitals were afraid to be associated with treatment of HIV patients. I am a little surprised that there is still no STD clinic in Tokyo area.

    I did a search online and found a few AIDS info sites in Japanese, but they are not easy to find, and most information is not meant for general public. (such as info about the next UNAIDS conference etc.) I found one website that gives basic AIDS-education info, and from the web address, I assume it to be some med school web site. However, I was surprised at the finger pointing (risk factors focusing on young people travelling aboard, and migrant workers prostitute), and bad information (such as speculation that AIDS might be foreign devil's biological warfare tools).

    I think the waiwai article is relevant, it reflects how STD is handled by the government. On the other hand, I am a little weary to use Waiwai as my source, because it's translated and it seem to be aimed at foreign audiences. I am more interested in how Japanese nowadays feel about AIDS: are they afraid? are they even aware? Are they too embarrassed to tall about it? How do Japanese women feel about asking their partner to use condom? Are couples more open to about uwaKi now? What has the government done? (other than lifting the ban on media coverage of HIV cases in 1985...)

    And the difficulties in obtaining AIDS-ed info speaks plenty... Anyway, Jock, can you keep an eye out for pamphlets etc? I don't know how they are distributed in Japan, but in Canada, most of those pamphlets can be found in counciling center and health clinics etc. So if you happen to pass by those area, maybe you can take a look for me (and I will be eternally grateful! I will buy you a keg of Hermans Dark!)

    BTW, if any of you read the newspaper regularly, any newspapar cutting will also be appreciated!

    -Cody
    -C. Chu
    ============================
    ‘¸Œh?AŠ´ŽÓ?A”E‘Ï

  6. #6
    T'ai Ji Monkey Guest

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    Originally posted by Cody
    I am a little surprised that there is still no STD clinic in Tokyo area.
    Actually there are plenty, but they hardly advertise.

    The ones I know of seem to be situated like in the 3rd or 4th story of an apartment building, I think there are a few that are even visible from yamanote line too.

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    Herman's dark???? My dear lady! Expect pams soon!
    Lurking in dark alleys may be hazardous to other peoples health........

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    Me and my friends saw a large sign about HIV near Chiba station. I remember us all (mostly exchange students) being quite suprised to see it. If I recall correctly (propably not) it had a silhuette of a man and woman and propably some symbols like syringe and others. If I'll walk past it with a camera again, I'll take a photo for you. Other than that I haven't seen any pamphlets or other material so far (I've been here only for 3 months). I can ask my friends, other exchange students, if they've seen anything.
    -Mikko Vilenius

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    Originally posted by Vile
    Me and my friends saw a large sign about HIV near Chiba station. I remember us all (mostly exchange students) being quite suprised to see it. If I recall correctly (propably not) it had a silhuette of a man and woman and propably some symbols like syringe and others. If I'll walk past it with a camera again, I'll take a photo for you. Other than that I haven't seen any pamphlets or other material so far (I've been here only for 3 months). I can ask my friends, other exchange students, if they've seen anything.
    Hi Mikko,

    Thank you for the response. If you can send me a pic, that would be awesome. Please also jot down the date and location.

    Also, any additional info will be greatly appreciated!

    -Cody
    -C. Chu
    ============================
    ‘¸Œh?AŠ´ŽÓ?A”E‘Ï

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