Fiona here, sharing an article from Japan Today about Jikei Hospital’s baby hatch. While a woman’s right to an abortion is not under threat in Japan, the article touches on a few reasons why it might not always be possible. For one, Japan is one of only ten countries where a married woman needs the written consent of her spouse. Non-married women are also usually required to get the permission of their partner. Not mentioned by the article are the high costs of getting an abortion here. The ‘abortion pill’ is not yet available in Japan, so surgical treatment is required. An abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy costs around 100,000 yen and is not covered by health insurance. Between 12 and 22 weeks, a hospital stay is necessary for the procedure, costing up to 200,000 yen. Understanding some of these obstacles to getting an abortion might explain why Kumamoto’s baby hatch is indeed a last resort for many women.