Kumamoto’s Jikei Hospital (慈恵病院) is well-known nationally for its “baby hatch,” into which desperate mothers (or fathers) can entrust an infant rather than resort to far worse measures.
A characteristic of Japanese officialdom is the “family register” (koseki , 戸籍), however, on which such desperate mothers’ (or, to scandalously less frequency, the fathers’) child would be noted and permanently remain. This is a major cause of the prevalence of highly dangerous home births.
Kumanichi reports that Jikei Hospital is investigating a method to circumvent this system. The plan has three steps: (1) A sealed document with the mother’s identity is entrusted to the hospital; (2) the mother gives birth at the hospital under anonymity; (3) the hospital arranges for the child’s adoption as a child with unknown parentage. Hasuda Ken, deputy director of the hospital, said, “After consulting with administrative agencies and confirming procedures, we will implement our plan.”
As an adoptee myself, I have an existential understanding of the importance such a system would offer - and this is yet another example of Kumamoto dragging Japan into the 21st Century (however reluctant the latter might be). I will try to keep you up to date with results of government-hospital negotiations. - William
