Japan initiates a groundbreaking market test of over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pills with pharmacies as a first access point.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: TT receives personal fees from MNES Inc. and Bionics Inc., outside the submitted work. HH is supported by the TOYOBO Biotechnology Foundation Fellowship, outside the submitted work. The other authors (THashimoto, YS and THamaki) have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.