Japan’s Alarming Data: Excess Deaths Surge After Repeated COVID-19 Vaccinations

A New Study Raises Urgent Questions About mRNA Vaccine Safety and the Need for Transparent Research

Introduction: A Sobering Revelation from Japan

In a groundbreaking opinion paper published in the JMA Journal (2025;8(2):584-586), researchers Kakeya H, Nitta T, Kamijima Y, and Miyazawa T shine a spotlight on a troubling trend: Japan, the world’s leader in per capita mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations, has seen a significant spike in excess deaths since the rollout of these vaccines, particularly after the Omicron variant emerged in 2022. With 3.6 doses per person administered by March 2024, Japan’s unique dataset offers a critical opportunity to examine the long-term effects of repeated mRNA vaccinations. This post dives into the paper’s key findings, their implications, and the shifting narrative around vaccine safety discussions—once dismissed as conspiracy theories but now demanding serious attention.

“Japan has experienced a surge in excess deaths since 2022, with rates exceeding 1400 per million in 2023—three times higher than the United States.”

A Nation Under the Needle: Japan’s Vaccination Landscape

Japan’s aggressive vaccination campaign made it a global outlier, administering more mRNA vaccine doses per capita than any other country. By October 2024, some citizens had received up to eight doses. Yet, despite this high coverage, the country saw a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases post-Omicron and a puzzling increase in excess mortality. The paper notes that only 10% of these excess deaths were directly attributed to COVID-19, raising questions about what’s driving the rest.

The authors point to Japan’s health relief system, which recorded 8,432 injuries and 903 deaths linked to COVID-19 vaccines as of November 18, 2024. These figures dwarf adverse event reports for all other vaccines over the past 47 years, including tragic cases like the death of a 14-year-old girl. This data suggests that the mRNA vaccines, particularly when administered repeatedly, may be contributing to a public health crisis.

“The Japanese government’s health relief system reported 903 deaths linked to COVID-19 vaccines, a stark contrast to the 47-year total for other vaccines.”

The Excess Death Mystery: A Signal of Concern

The paper highlights a disturbing trend: excess deaths in Japan surged to unprecedented levels in 2022 and 2023, even as COVID-19’s direct impact waned. With excess mortality rates three times higher than in the U.S., the authors hypothesize that repeated mRNA vaccinations may play a role. Japan’s diverse vaccination status—from unvaccinated individuals to those with multiple boosters—provides a unique lens to study this phenomenon. The data suggests that adverse reactions, potentially exacerbated by frequent dosing, could be a factor in these deaths, though the authors call for more research to confirm causality.

This finding is particularly striking because it challenges the narrative that vaccines are uniformly safe and effective. The paper underscores that Japan’s experience is not just a national issue but a global one, as mRNA vaccines remain a cornerstone of pandemic response strategies worldwide.

“Only 10% of Japan’s excess deaths were directly attributed to COVID-19, leaving the majority unexplained and raising questions about vaccine-related risks.”

From Conspiracy to Reality: The Shifting Narrative

Just a couple of years ago, raising concerns about mRNA vaccine safety was a surefire way to be labeled a conspiracy theorist. Social media platforms censored discussions, mainstream media dismissed skeptics, and public health officials insisted the vaccines were beyond reproach. Fast forward to 2025, and studies like this one are forcing a reckoning. What was once branded as misinformation—questions about adverse events, long-term effects, or the wisdom of repeated boosters—is now being validated by data from one of the world’s most vaccinated nations.

The Japanese study is a wake-up call, not just for researchers but for society. It highlights how quickly dissent was silenced during the pandemic, often at the cost of open scientific inquiry. The courage of researchers like Kakeya and their collaborators, along with advocates like Masako Ganaha and Dr. Yasufumi Murakami, who pushed for data transparency through FOIA requests, reminds us that questioning medical mandates is not anti-science—it’s the essence of science. Today, as these “conspiracy theories” find grounding in peer-reviewed journals, we must reflect on how stifling debate delayed our understanding of potential risks.

“Japan’s unique dataset, with vaccination statuses ranging from zero to eight doses, offers a critical opportunity to study the long-term effects of mRNA vaccines.”

A Call for Transparency and Action

The authors of the JMA Journal paper don’t just raise alarms—they demand action. They urge large-scale, transparent research to investigate the link between mRNA vaccinations, excess deaths, and chronic diseases. Japan’s health data, meticulously collected and now partially accessible through FOIA efforts, could be a goldmine for understanding the global implications of mRNA technology. The paper calls for governments and health institutions to prioritize data openness, ensuring that future pandemics are met with policies grounded in evidence, not assumptions.

This study also serves as a reminder that vaccine safety is not a one-size-fits-all issue. With reports of adverse events, including deaths in young people, the public deserves answers about the risks of repeated vaccinations, especially as booster campaigns continue globally.

Conclusion: Time for Honest Questions

The JMA Journal paper is a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate about COVID-19 vaccines. It doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but it asks the right questions: Why are excess deaths spiking in a highly vaccinated nation? Could repeated mRNA doses be contributing? And why has it taken so long for these concerns to reach mainstream discourse? As Japan’s data reveals uncomfortable truths, we must embrace open inquiry and resist the urge to dismiss difficult findings. The shift from “conspiracy theory” to credible concern shows that truth often takes time to emerge—but when it does, it demands our attention.

For those who championed vaccine skepticism despite the backlash, this study is a vindication. For the rest of us, it’s a call to demand transparency, support rigorous research, and ensure that public health policies prioritize people over dogma. Japan’s experience is a warning and an opportunity—let’s not waste it.

Read the full paper: JMA Journal, DOI: 10.31662/jmaj.2024-0298