Tokyo Gov. Koike to gather information on organ trafficking

14:09 JST, August 20, 2022

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike has said the metropolitan government will “gather necessary information” following recent reports of suspected organ trafficking concerning an organization that arranges transplants overseas.

The Intractable Disease Patient Support Association was involved in coordinating living donor kidney transplants in developing countries for Japanese patients.

The Tokyo-based nonprofit organization is certified by the metropolitan government.

The metropolitan government is authorized to conduct on-site inspections if a certified organization is suspected of violating laws and regulations or operating in an inappropriate manner.

“Violations of the Organ Transplant Law are a matter to be handled primarily by the police and relevant authorities. We will keep a close eye on how they deal with the issue,” the governor said at a regularly scheduled press conference on Friday.