View Mothers:Adoption
Adopting a child in Japan can be easier than in your home country. Japanese people are generally reluctant to adopt regardless of the child’s nationality, but especially if there is any doubt that the child is not one hundred percent Japanese. Most of the children are of mixed nationality, often Japanese-Filipino, and most adoptive parents in Japan are European or North American. Most children adopted in Japan are adopted when they are babies, within five to ten days of birth, with the whole process beginning well before the birth.
There are two methods of adoption: through your ward office and through an agency.
The process is the same for all foreign women, regardless of whether their partner is foreign or Japanese. Adoptions usually take between six months and one year, although in rare cases it can take longer.
Adopting through the ward office
You can apply at your ward office to be a ‘foster parent with intent to adopt’. There will be a lot of paperwork and plenty of interviews, but no specific requirements such as marital status or religion. Most children adopted through the ward office system are no longer babies, and will have spent much of their lives in state orphanages.
Adopting through an agency
There are several English-speaking non-profit organisations specifically established to help you adopt a child. Before they agree to help you, they will ask you about your marital status and how long you intend to live in Japan. Some organisations will not work with unmarried couples, lesbian couples, or single women. The organisation will interview you and any children you already have, and inquire about the potential grandparents’ views on your adopting a child who is of a different race from your own. The cost depends on the organisation, but it is usually around ¬•100,000, which covers the home visits and completion of paperwork.
The adoption organisations try to place children very quickly to avoid the baby being placed in an orphanage.
Final approval
An approved adoption in Japan cannot take place until the laws of the parents’ home countries have been adhered to. An adoption agency can help you through this process. In some cases, the laws of the home country are complicated and can cause problems.
After a child is placed, the family then goes to the Japanese family court to make a formal application. The court has to approve the adoption after the child has been placed, but it is rare that approval is not granted.