According to the International Register of Organ Donation and Transplantation, Japan is one of the countries with the lowest number of registered deceased donors. In 2019, Japan was ranked 61st out of 70 countries. The authors of this article have decided to explore the reasons for this phenomenon. In the first part of the work, religious influences (Shinto and Buddhism), the tradition of gotai manzoku, the importance of altruism and the family in the perception of death and organ transplantation by (...) the Japanese are considered. The second part of the article presents the arguments of Alan Shewmon, who believes that brain death is not death in the biological sense. Undermining the brain’s death criterion raises doubts concerning death of patients in irreversible coma, what in result discourages transplantology in Japan. In the third part, the authors compare the results of JOTN, IRODaT and the Fact Book of Organ Transplantation 2018 in Japan from 2010 to 2018. The aim of the article is to explain the cultural determinants of transplantology in Japan, taking into account the influence of philosophical and bioethical aspects of human death. (shrink)

This article explores how to combine Confucian principles of filial piety and benevolence with modern aging society governance through literature review and case studies, aiming to improve the elderly people’s quality of life and promote social harmony by integrating traditional values into modern policies. This article analyzes the challenges brought by aging to Chinese society and explores how to solve the social problems caused by aging through these traditional values. The results indicate that the Confucian ideals of filial piety and (...) benevolence provide moral guidance and cultural foundation for respecting and caring for the elderly. The concept of filial piety emphasizes the respect and care of children towards their parents, while the idea of benevolence advocates for the care and support of the elderly throughout society. It is crucial to integrate these traditional values with modern national policies in building a civilized elderly society. By doing so, China can improve its elderly citizens’ quality of life and pave the way for a respectful and caring social framework. (shrink)