Japan Hospital Urges Empathy for Baby Hatch Mothers

Takeshi Hasuda, director of Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto, is advocating for a deeper understanding of the mothers who leave infants in the hospital's "baby hatch." He stressed that these women often contend with complex issues, including developmental and attachment disorders, which can hinder their ability to seek help or foresee consequences.

The "Konotori no Yurikago" (stork's cradle) at Jikei Hospital, established in 2007, has accepted a total of 200 babies and toddlers by fiscal 2025. In fiscal 2025 specifically, seven children were placed in the hatch, a reduction from the 14 received in the previous fiscal year. Hasuda speculated that the recent installation of a similar facility in Tokyo might have contributed to this decline.

While the baby hatch is viewed as a vital safeguard for infants, Hasuda emphasized its existence points to gaps in existing support systems. He suggested that robust counseling and protection services should ideally make such anonymous surrender options unnecessary. He also noted that one preschooler was among the seven children left at the hospital in fiscal 2025, underscoring the hospital's commitment to protecting all vulnerable individuals, regardless of age.