I know that very few Japanese women take drugs to ease labor pains.  Doctors very rarely will give them to women. It is highly discouraged. I live in Okinawa, Japan on a military base and had my baby at the military hospital where I could have had drugs but opted not to.  I went to prenatal classes with Japanese women and they told me all about it.  They're also told to gain only 12-16 pounds during pregnancy!!!  CRAZY!