Local groups try to combat the rise of HIV infection in Japan

By Karryn Miller

TOKYO —

The statistics speak for themselves: 25 million dead, 33 million infected and 2 million new cases each year. The global AIDS epidemic, which first reared its head 27 years ago, continues to spread around the globe. As governments and NPOs work together to lessen the impact, infection rates have slowed and the public’s knowledge throughout the First World has increased — except in Japan.

According to a July 2008 report published by The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS and the World Health Organization, Japan had the lowest HIV prevalence of the major developed countries. Yet in contrast to other nations, infection rates here have actually grown since 1996.

“The number of newly reported HIV cases is dramatically increasing, especially among men who have sex with men, and young people,” says Tsutomu Nemoto, an organizer of Japan’s upcoming World AIDS Day event. “What’s also worrying is the increase in newly reported cases, meaning the virus wasn’t detected before it developed into full-blown AIDS.

Why? Too often, HIV is viewed as an overseas problem. “How aware people are in Japan about AIDS varies from person to person,” Nemoto says. “Most people seem not to realize they can get HIV. When it comes to AIDS, some people imagine that it is a disease somewhere in Africa or that it affects a particular population, like gay people and/or sex workers.”

Indeed, the numbers are alarming. An NGO called Stop! STD o Kangaeru Kai conducted a survey of youths in Shibuya last year. Of the 466 Japanese high school students questioned, one in 17 had contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and only half were aware that HIV/AIDs could be spread among people their age. According to “The Face of Global Sex 2008,” a report compiled by condom maker Durex, out of the 26 countries surveyed, Japan ranked 25th in terms of the general public’s knowledge about how to protect itself from STIs.

World AIDS Day (WADS), held around the globe on Dec 1, aims to raise awareness of the situation. “The theme of WADS 2008 in Japan is ‘Think & Link,’” explains Nemoto. “WADS is trying to link peoples’ daily lives and AIDS together by holding various events, including live music performances, distributing condoms in the middle of Shibuya, and organizing other activities throughout Japan.”

The bulk of these events will take place on Sunday, Nov 30, in the vicinity of Shibuya station. One of the highlights will be the Red Walk, with volunteers marching through the city’s streets handing out literature about the disease.

After WADS 2008 wraps up, there will still be a number of ways people can get information and help. Free, anonymous HIV testing is available at the public health center of each ward. Test dates and times are limited, however, making it necessary to contact your local center in advance. The Japanese Foundation for AIDS Prevention also runs a 24-hour support line, with pre-recorded information about HIV/AIDS, as well as counseling, testing, treatment and more, in English and seven other languages.

See www.wadsjapan.net (Japanese only) for more information about WADS events. To volunteer or request English information, email toma@youthaidscoalition.org. The 24-hour, multilingual HIV/AIDS support hotline is 03-5940-2127.

This story originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp).

Latest 15 of 28 Total Comments Show All

jonnyboy at 08:47 AM JST - 28th November

well if you actually look at the most high-risk groups for hiv/aids (the destitute and/or heavy/intravenous drug users) you'll notice that they aren't exactly the sort of people with healthy lifestyles. hmmmm... that's interesting, isn't it?
ptolemy at 05:03 PM JST - 28th November

Right on Badsey! As my dearly sainted dad advised me "Wear a wet suit before taking the dive in". I only wish more dads would advise their sons and daughters of this. Condoms save many lives and prevent the spread of disease, they are not 100% effective, but it is better than nothing.
jwills79 at 05:27 PM JST - 28th November

Playing devils advocate it is not only the Japanese men going on trips throughout Asia. It is also the ladies going abroad to Australia, USA, Canada and UK and finding holiday boyfriends. Not to mention some of the nasty Caucasian foreigners around Tokyo. Dipping in some of those same women people were talking about earlier. You know the ones I am talking about.

The only difference between us and a large majority of Japanese when it comes to this issue is that we should know better. Alot are still ignorant to the issue.
TheDonald at 07:05 AM JST - 29th November

we are talking about a country where abortion is the common birth control and teens think it's normal to catch an STD.

Which country is that? You just described a dozen countries, in the first world, alone, (albeit including Japan).

We thought it wasn't a problem for us, too, until those sailors and their constituents brought it to the states, and our science woke up and smelt the roses about this virus and what the implications were.

That's to be expected when you're new to a disease, as a country.
gaijintraveller at 08:06 PM JST - 29th November

The fact is Japan has a low rate of confirmed HIV cases. Why is it so low? Because there is a low rate of testing.

This is known as living in a state of denial.

Compare this with the situation with mad cow's disease. It didn't exist in Japan because there was virtually no testing. Then it hit.

But surely this can only be picked up in foreign countries as we are warned when we go to Narita to leave Japan, but not when we come back.
butterfly1 at 09:30 PM JST - 29th November

Some Japanese friends of mine said that they dont ask guys to wear condoms - whereas friends from home demand it! And some carry their own. I think Japanese need more education on PERSONAL HEALTH - A Japanese friend of mine thought that girls pee from their vagina - she had no idea but was a very 'itelligent' private university student. made me worry lots...
R_M_s at 07:06 PM JST - 30th November

Most of the girls I know seem to know about as much as the "intelligent uni student" butterfly1 described. It absolutely astonishes me how little some girls know about their own bodies, STIs and birth control. Scary in fact
butterfly1 at 07:30 PM JST - 30th November

RMs - My mum talked to my sister and I about 'stuff' and I had books at home like 'Where did I come from?', 'What's happening to me?', 'Everygirl'... so that those questions we didnt feel comfortable asking or talking about with her, we could read up about by ourselves... What happens here?? Just asked hubby... parents didnt talk to him about anything to do with puberty and sex. He learnt everything from the schoolyard... FRIGHTENING!!
bdiego at 11:02 AM JST - 2nd December

ataro, it's as rampant as most any industrialized nation. As non-PC as it may be, that and drug use has an exceptionally high rate of transmission compared to man-woman sex. When HIV enters most countries, it starts spreading these two ways before it goes "mainstream".
studebaker at 01:34 PM JST - 2nd December

I get tested once a year just to be safe: the Shinjuku free clinic has stats up in the office. Of the people going to get tested something like 1% have it. The actual numbers of people who are infected but do not know (and have been infected for more than a year) are probably pretty scary.
Nessie at 01:55 PM JST - 2nd December

I get tested once a year just to be safe:

Ah, the good old days.
Nessie at 02:01 PM JST - 2nd December

The statistics speak for themselves: 25 million dead, 33 million infected and 2 million new cases each year. The global AIDS epidemic, which first reared its head 27 years ago, continues to spread around the globe.

The vast majority of these are in developing countries, so it's more accurate to call it an epidemic of the developing world, rather than a global epidemic.

According to a July 2008 report published by The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS and the World Health Organization, Japan had the lowest HIV prevalence of the major developed countries. Yet in contrast to other nations, infection rates here have actually grown since 1996.

So in Japan it's a minor problem that's become slightly less minor a problem.

“The number of newly reported HIV cases is dramatically increasing"

No figures provided. Interesting.

“What’s also worrying is the increase in newly reported cases, meaning the virus wasn’t detected before it developed into full-blown AIDS."

Huh? Does anyone follow this logic?
Nessie at 02:05 PM JST - 2nd December

I didn't know that 'STD' had changed to 'STI'. Interesting.

Probably to distinguish between symptomless infections and full-blown diseases. For many STDs, you can be infected but asymptomatic.
Nessie at 06:03 PM JST - 2nd December

http://www.aycworldnews.com/global-aids-crisis-overblown-some-dare-to-say-so/

Global AIDS crisis overblown? Some dare to say so by: admin December 1, 2008, 3:39 pm LONDON (AP) — As World AIDS Day is marked on Monday, some experts are growing more outspoken in complaining that AIDS is eating up funding at the expense of more pressing health needs. They argue that the world has entered a post-AIDS era in which the disease’s spread has largely been curbed in much of the world, Africa excepted.

“AIDS is a terrible humanitarian tragedy, but it’s just one of many terrible humanitarian tragedies,” said Jeremy Shiffman, who studies health spending at Syracuse University.
ca1ic0cat at 04:08 AM JST - 3rd December

At least they are finally admitting there is a problem. That's the first step. Getting the "safe sex" message out to the bedroom level is probably going to be difficult. Ostrich syndrome, anybody?