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Blood donation campaign

19 Comments

From left: Japanese Red Cross President Tadateru Konoe, Health Minister Yoko Komiyama, pro golfer Ryo Ishikawa, Monkey Majik members Maynard, Blaise and DICK, Love in Action Project leader Shu Yamamoto and Itaru Nishimoto, who heads the blood institute of the Japanese Red Cross, attend a news conference to launch a blood donation campaign aimed at people in their 20s.

The two-month campaign is asking young people in their 20s to consider donating blood. The Red Cross says the number of blood donors decreases in winter. Ishikawa has been a goodwill representative for the campaign for the past three years. Monkey Majik sings the theme song "HERO" for the campaign.

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19 Comments
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Don't include the foreigners in this... Strangely our blood is too tainted to be given to the Japanese people. I used to live in Europe, meaning that, due to Cernobyl, my blood can not be used. As far as I know I got much more radiation (together with the rest of the Japanese population) since 3/11...

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Just for your information, foreigners in Japan can donate blood.

The following categories of people are banned from donating blood in Japan whether you are foreigners or Japanese national. (+some more reasons that I experienced myself and my friends, especially female : too thin (39kg-), just had your ears pierced...etc.)

http://www.mutantfrog.com/2011/03/13/who-can-and-can-not-donate-blood-in-japan/

http://www.tokyo.bc.jrc.or.jp/current/index2.html#Anchor-51540

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Heck, just draw blood from the mascot. (kenketsu?) Looks like he/she could give up four or five pints and not break a sweat!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

dude i want japanese blood flowing in me!! >.<

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Just about any Brits are banned permanently (if you spent 6 months in the UK prior to 1986, I think the rule is) - despite the fact that vCJD is basically extinct.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Sorry, the limit is only 30 days between 1980 and 1996, or 6 months after that. Or 6 months in much of Europe where they never even had a significant problem in the first place.

http://www.jrc.or.jp/donation/refrain/detail/detail09.html

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So pretty much in a nutshell according to Blairs list Europeans can forget it. A lot of the exclusions I can understand, and they are not dissimilar (although maybe more strict) than the UK ones. But the European CJD / Chernobyl thing does seem a little paranoid to me. Then again, I suppose Europeans make up suh a small % of potential donors here it doesnt really make much difference.

I have never been able to give blood. I have always been too light (the UK limit is under 8 stone or 105lbs(ish) or 47 kgs (ish). I now make the weight limit by the skin of my teeth, but now they wont take me here because I am from the UK. I suppose all the tattoos, body piercings, drugs, drink and annonymous sex dont help either..... ;) !

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Thanks for the info, Blair. I guess I can donate blood but my wife can't (too petite), though I haven't had an urge to do so.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Where do see that Europeans are ineligible due to Chernobyl? I don't see that on the JRC website.

The Red Cross in the USA is also paranoid over vCJD, so it is not a Japan thing against foreigners: You are not eligible to donate if From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom.

The only problems I even had giving blood in Japan was that cat scratch scars on my wrist look like I had a history of wrist cutting.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I used to give blood regularly both in the UK and in Japan. I gave in Japan so often I filled up several of the little red stamp cards they give you, and was given a lapel badge. Even asked to appear on local TV urging people to give blood. Then mad cow happened and a couple of trips back home meant my blood was no longer required - nor the kids', since they came with me. The man was very nice about it and even gave me a dozen eggs as a consolation prize.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You'd have to have come here from NA to live before the 80s and not gone home for more than 30 days in the 80s and 90s (most of the 90s, anyway), and Japanese who have lived abroad during that period also cannot give blood in many places (depends how stringent the questionnaire is). It's slightly less stringent for people who hail from and/or lived in Europe during roughly the same period. Anyway, it's interesting Monkey Majik sing the song for it and appear in the pic, as Maynard and Blaise certainly couldn't donate blood.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Chernobyl thing does seem a little paranoid to me

Chernobyl thing has nothing to do with blood donation in Japan as far as I read the JRC website.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Blair

Chernobyl thing has nothing to do with blood donation in Japan as far as I read the JRC website.

Do you REALLY EXPECT them to write it all in uppercase and bold letters on that web-page? REALLY?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

so basically foreigners cannot donate blood in Japan, makes sense fort his country. I wonder then why a donation campaign is advertised on JT.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

so basically foreigners cannot donate blood in Japan

I just gave blood 2 hours ago. While I am fluent in Japanese language, my face and name give me away. I think they noticed my gaijinity and received my blood anyways.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japanese are too superstitious about blood-types. They're picky about what blood they're taking in, heheheh.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

just gave blood 2 hours ago

that is wonderful. My Thai friend wanted to give blood but was refused.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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