Warren Ball, an American long-time bookseller in Tokyo, knows nothing
about adoption but became interested when asked to find some
information. Warren writes this page. He will not tell you where you
should look for your child, what the rules are, costs, etc., etc.
Taking on a child is a far more demanding act than taking on a luxury
car or buying a mansion (apartment) in Tokyo. The decision making, the
responsibility is all yours. Here you will be given some leads and
basic information. You follow up. Keep in mind that this information is
biased by Warren's nationality (USA), his own life experiences, and his
reliance on English publications and English-speaking advisors.
Nevertheless, if you are adopting from Japan (regardless of your or
child's condition or nationality), you will have to deal with Japanese
customs and laws as well as those of your own country. If this sounds
like a nuisance, it is ... a time and money consuming headache. If you
are looking for a quick and easy acquisition, you probably should stop
now.
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TELL (Tokyo English Life Line)
has served the international community in Japan for over 33 years. In
2006 they published a directory "Tell me about Tokyo"
isbn:4-9900791-5-9. Good solid reliable information aimed mainly at
gaijin (non-Japanese). Of course, I am a bookseller; so buy the book.
More info here, on Amazon, at Maruzen main store, Yurindo (Yokohama), etc.
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| Book Adoption in Japan: Comparing Policies for Children in Need by Peter Hayes, Toshie Habu isbn 0415391814 -
Published by Routledge in 2006, this is clearly a book that should be
seen, but we have not yet seen it. Perhaps too academic for the
ordinary person. Check your library or bookstore first. |
U.S. Department of State There about 9 pages of info on "Intercountry Adoption" here. Excellent information from a government/legal perspective.
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Craigs List Sometimes people tell the truth when they are disconnected from those close by. The adoption forum here is worth a look.
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ISS - International Social Service is a nonsectarian, nonprofit international social work agency with headquarters in Geneva and an international network of over 150 national branches, affiliated bureaus and correspondents worldwide. Japan. USA. This is one of two organizations in Japan recommended to me.
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Catholic organization - Highly recommended (and not limited to helping Catholics in Japan) but we have very little info. Here.
Note that there are many others found on the internet using the words
"Jesus family". In most cases we think them to be totally unrelated to
the organization through the link above. We thus urge caution.
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| Stateless Children
- Children who have no recognized nationality present a special
problem. How can an adoption be carried out unless it can be determined
what laws apply. Stateless kids are increasing in number due to
increasing movement of people. A typical situation might involve a U.S.
soldier and a Japanese girl. If the soldier admits to being the father
of the resulting child, the child then probably has a claim to U.S.
Citizenship, but if he runs away, the baby may be stateless. Similarly,
a Japanese man denies he is the father of a child born by his
Philippino wife. The baby will not get Japanese citizenship and will
not benefit from the normally provided social services in Japan. Please
do not rely on these two examples I have given. Governments have
foolish rules and unfortunately a baby cannot fight for himself. The
above two social service agencies are experienced in working with the
many problems that will be faced in international adoption. Even the
best adoptive parents and the best of babies will face months or years
filling out government forms etc., etc., etc., etc.
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Baby or Young Child
- One advisor suggests trying to obtain a very young baby, under eight
months of age. A child this young will not have bonded with the birth
mother or caretaker. The adoptive mother thus gets started very early.
But an older child may be easier to understand. Older kids will already
have a track record that you can look at to determine whether they will
be good for you and you good for them.
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Perfect Child
- Why are you adopting? Why choosing to adopt from Japan? It would be
marvelous if you are adopting purely to help a child in need, whatever
his or her history, parentage, defects, intelligence, age, etc.
Selfless helping would be best but in truth we all have desires and
abilities and failures that will impact our search.
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Websites that may help - Our own Google search using key words adoption Japan
brought up these sites. They tend to be broad in coverage and not
specific to what may be your desires, but they are worth looking
at: http://www.adoption.com http://www.adoption.org http://www.adopting.org
The foregoing organizations seem to me to be, in general, very commercial. This can be both good and not so good.
Also see: http://www.fww.org/famnews/0629a.html http://international.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/adoption-in-japan http://www.tokyowithkids.com and finally this adoption service in California provides good info and the best honest cost estimates.
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Adoption Agencies in Japan
- This list is taken directly from an undated webpage of the US Embassy
in Tokyo. Partially duplicates organizations mentioned above.
Agency to Rescue Children
Diapalace #206, 1-4-8, Minami-Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba-ken 277-0855
Tel: 0471-45-6580
(Mrs. Utako KIKUCHI)
Ai No Kesshin
10-15 Hinode-cho, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka-ken 420-0837
Tel: 054-250-0217
(Sarah GORDON rtgordon{at]tokai.or.jp)
The Association for International Adoption of Babies
2-19-18, Fukumen Ohno-cho, Saiki-gun, Hiroshima-ken 739-0401
Tel: 082-956-2665
(Ms. Kiyoko KAGEYAMA – President)
Japan International Social Service (This is the ISS mentioned above.)
Nishimura Building Room 601, 3-6-18, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153- 0051
Tel: 03-3760-3471
Fax: 03-3760-3474
(Mrs. Yaeko OTSUKI – General Director)
The following was seen on another website but not on the Embassy list.
Crown Child Placement International
2-19-9 Hikawadai, Higashikurume-shi, Tokyo 203-0004
Tel: 0424 77 6746, Fax: 0424 765 3545
(Ms. Josina BOSWELL - Adoption Counselor)
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Orphanages around Tokyo
- More info we found on the web. We have not verified the
following list, which is several years old. We have no details and you
probably should NOT try to directly contact an orphanage without
introduction.
Aijino Ie
Seibi Home
Shisei Gakuen
Red Cross Children's Home
Futaba Gakuen
Tokyo Sarageo Gakuen.
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Suitable comments will be edited and added to the info on this page.
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