Child Adoption: How Should We Improve the System of Adoption in Japan

           “I am an adopted child.” My American friend told me with a natural voice tone　and smile. It is awkward to speak out and unusual to hear that in Japan, but it is common in the U.S. Children adoption means that responsibilities of the child transfer to the adopter. The adoptee will be orphan children or children who have parents but they cannot take care of their own child. The adopters could be either a person from relatives or not a relative person. According to Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, there are 31,593 orphans in Japan. It is more than about 1,000 orphans than 2008. The Japanese orphans’ age average is 10.6, and they became orphans when they are 5.9 of age on average. In Japan, children adoption is unusual and there are two systems, which is regular and special adoption, so it is a little complicated. Japanese citizens should learn and know more about children adoption, should be aggressive to it with in country adoption and international adoption, and the Japanese government should make the system simple for the both Japanese and foreign adopters.

Japanese children adoption is getting lower every year. There are two possible reasons of that. The first reason is about the system. There are two systems of the children adoption in Japan. One is Regular and the other is Special adoption. Regular adoption is made agreement between children’s parents and adopters. In addition, children’s position on the family register is shown as “adopted child”. On the other hand, Special adoption is thinking for children, because children’s position on the family register is “real child of adopter” and original parents cannot interference for the child. It means that children could have a “real” family and it is recommended by organization of child adoption these days. However, the number of the Special adoption is 300 to 400 and it is getting lower and lower. It was 1223 adoptions in 1989, when the special adoption started (Yoshida 78). Special adoption is good for both children and parents, but it is difficult to do and takes much more time. For example, for special adoption, adopters would have 6 months of trial for adoption.

The second reason is people’s thinking. In Japan, adoption is still unusual and Japanese citizens do not know much about adoption. It makes it hard for Japanese people to do adoption and even decreasing the number. Adoption is more a natural thing in the U.S. People in the U.S. do adoption not only because they cannot have their own children but also after they got old and they still want to have another child. Japanese people tend to think that if they could have their own child, they do not have to adopt. In addition, Japanese are not accepting to mix with other blood or different culture. (Adoption.com) Sometime, it is just because they are not familiar with other culture and different kind of thinking. However, some strict Japanese people do not accept foreign children to come as adopted child or foreign people to have Japanese children.

               Children adoption should be increased, because it is good for both parents and children. According to American Pregnancy association, adoption is one of the choices for mothers or parents who cannot have children (“Adoption Options”). It is the last choice for sterile mothers or parents. There is a case that some old parents who already raise their own child and adopt another child after they got old. It is usual in the U.S. and it could be another chance for adoption. Further more, there are benefits for orphans to be adopted. Children could have parents and they will love and raise children. Having parents and experiencing family life is good for children’s lifetime. Orphan children should live with family and have parents than spend whole their lifetime in orphanage. According to NPO interview, it is important for children’s personal growth to have family time and loved by people at the early childhood because their personality will be depends on family time. In addition, children learn kindness from their family the most. Therefor, adoption is necessary and it will be good for children.

The first solution for increasing adoption is solution with in country adoption. If Japan keeping strict for international adoption, especially the cases of foreigners adopt Japanese children, in country adoption should be more increased. Although Japan decided to start the special adoption for better adopting, it is still difficult and takes time. In addition, Japanese do not understand or do not know much about the adoption, so that Japanese government should release information. Both government and adoption organization should tell story and do more PR for the Japanese citizens about the adoption. It is one good way to solve the present situation of in country adoption. People know the system or adoption more it will lead people to adopt children more often and it will become familiar for Japanese society. At the same time, the system should be easier. Now a day, many adopters want to adopt child with special adoption, because adoptee will be shown on the family register as their “real child”. However, for special adoption, Japanese government makes adopters to have 6 months trials and after that they will be judged by family court for adoption. It is necessary to have 6 months trial, but examination could be start at the same time as trial. Japanese adoption system could be improved.

                  The second solution is about international adoption. These days, international adoption is common and there are lots of adoption associations. There are 32 cases of international adoption, which means the case of the American families adopted Japanese orphans, in 2010 (“Intercountry Adoption”). In addition, there are many add of sinternational adoption and American people get adoptees from many different countries. Some of the countries are China, Korea, India, and Mexico, which are all open to intercultural adoption. Japan is open to intercultural adoption, but it is what happened recently. Japanese government is not aggressive to adoption as the U.S. government. According to the Embassy of the United State, for example, put the ad or information of the adoption up on their HP and it explains that how to international adoption in Japan works or which organization will help it.

               In conclusion, to improve adoption in Japan, the government must make the system simple and do PR more about adoption. As mentions above, children adoption has benefits for both parents and children. Children could have family time in their life and it will connect with their personal growth. In addition, parents who surely love their adopted child could have their own child by the system of adoption. Therefor, Japan should be more aggressive of adoption. It is possible to think both international adoption and in country adoption. There are 31,593 orphan children in Japan, so Japanese should take care of them as country, government, and personal. For the future, Japanese should solve in country orphans problems and have to see adoption or orphans in the world. Moreover, Japanese adoption would be more usual and easier, and much more children could live with family and loved by them.

Works Cited

"Adopting from Japan: Factsheet, Page 2." Japan Adoption - International, Agencies, Programs, Information, Costs - . N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://japan.adoption.com/foreign/adopting-from-japan-factsheet,2.html>.

“Adoption.com International Adoption Support.” Adoption Forums, Group, Baby Adoptions. N.p., Web. 20 Oct. 2011.

<http://forums.adoption.com/international-adoption-support/291207-anyone-ev

er-adopt-japan.html>

"Adoption Options: American Pregnancy Association." Promoting Pregnancy Wellness: American Pregnancy Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://www.americanpregnancy.org/adoption/adoptionoptions.html>.

"Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan." Home | Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-adopt.html>.

"Intercountry Adoption." Adoptions Home | Intercountry Adoption. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=japan>.

"Japan Adoption Requirements - Adopt.com." Adopt a Child Adoption - Adopt.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.

<http://adopt.com/japan/index.html>.

Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. "Jidou Yougo Shisetsu Nyusyo Jodou Tou Chousa Kekka no Gaiyou [Summary and Result of the research of Orphans, Orphanage, and etc. in Japan]." Kousei Roudou Sho [Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare]. N.p., 1 Feb. 2009. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. <http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jidouyougo/19/index.html>.

NPO Baby Pocket. Email interview. 20 Oct. 2011.

Yoshida, Hifumi. “Tokubetsu Youshi Seido no Seiritsu Katei [The Process of Establishing the Special Adoption System].” Ritsumeikan Ningen Kagaku Kenkyu Ronbun [Treatise of the Ritsumeikan’s Human Science]. 4 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.

       <http://www.ritsumeihuman.com/publication/files/ningen19/19_77.pdf>