Why Japan has only 2 'baby hatches'

Japan is trying to reverse one of the world’s lowest birth rates. But every year, some babies are still born into crisis. When Tokyo’s San-ikukai Hospital opened Japan’s second baby hatch in 2025, it reignited a debate that has divided the country for nearly two decades. Do baby hatches save lives, or do they expose deeper failures in how society supports women and children? This week on Japan Today Spotlight, we examine the history of Japan’s baby hatches, the women who use them, the children who grow up after being placed in them and the difficult ethical questions they raise. Full details and sources are in the links below. -------------------------------------------------- ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Intro: 20 babies in one year 00:57 What's actually behind that door? 02:16 Before there was a door 03:28 18 years — only one baby hatch 04:19 The price of showing up 06:52 The women behind the number 08:17 The boy in the basket 09:28 Not everyone agrees 10:40 Outro -------------------------------------------------- 💬 Do you think Japan should expand its baby hatch system, or should the focus be on preventing families from reaching that point? Let us know below. 👇 🔗 Visit the story on Japan Today: 📌 https://japantoday.com/category/spotl... 🔗 Japan Today sources: 📌 Tokyo hospital says its baby hatch received 20 infants since opening last year -- https://japantoday.com/category/natio... 📌 “Life after is more important”: A child of Japan’s baby hatch -- https://japantoday.com/category/featu... 📌 Need for baby hatches seems greater than ever -- https://japantoday.com/category/featu... 📌 How Kumamoto hospital’s baby hatch is doing after 13 years -- https://japantoday.com/category/featu... 🔔 Subscribe for more Japan news and analysis.    / @japantodayofficial   Follow Japan Today for more: 🌏 Website: https://japantoday.com 📸 Instagram:   / japantodaynews   📘 Facebook:   / japantoday   🐤 Twitter/X: https://x.com/JapanToday DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of GPlusMedia, Inc.