Abstract
In Japan, AID (donor insemination) has been practiced for more than 60 years. AID offspring who have sought identifying information about their donors have recently been highlight in Japan and other countries. In some countries, donor offspring now have a legally guaranteed right to obtain donor identifying information, with the movement to respect donor offspring rights expanding worldwide. It is, however, still difficult for many donor offspring to obtain donor information. The voluntary registry of donors/donor offspring, and donor linking are effective means for donor off-spring to locate their donors or biological half-siblings. Indeed, both voluntary registry and donor linking have already taken place in a number of countries. One example comes from the Netherlands, where an NGO named Fiom has introduced voluntary registry and donor linking using DNA testing, with support from the Dutch government. In this paper, the Dutch example is highlighted, and used as a means of exploring the circumstances that led to the establishment of their Artificial Insemination Donors' Information Act (Wet donorgegevens kunstmatige bevruchting), which secures the right of AID offspring over 16 years of age to obtain donor identifying information, as well as details of the DNA-based donor linking practiced by Fiom. In light of this, the paper discusses what can be done to secure Japanese AID offspring's right to know their donor information, and to prepare for the future introduction of a voluntary donor/donor offspring registry and donor linking in Japan.
