• In Japan Thalidomide was sold since January 1958 by various firms under several trade names – all available over-the-counter. “Isomin” and “Proban-M” were the most popular products, sold by drug company Dainippon, who kept selling the drug until May 1962, a full 6 months after the drug was recalled in Germany. The drug continued to be sold without any pregnancy warnings.

• Japanese authorities only started to retrieve Thalidomide pills from doctors’ surgeries in September 1962.

• Most Japanese Thalidomide children were born after the drug had been taken off the market in Germany.

• About 1,000 Thalidomide babies were born in Japan. Only about three hundred of them survived. Japanese Thalidomiders have previously suggested that one reason for this low rate might have been euthanasia, especially in remote areas.

• In 1974 a settlement was reached between 39 Tokyo families and Dainippon at the Tokyo District Court. Dainippon had advertised Thalidomide as particularly safe in pregnancy. Similar settlements followed in Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya and other cities. Dainippon paid $18 million in total ($350,000 per person) – at the time that was more than in any other country. The Japanese government contributed to the survivors’ compensation.

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