Mothers place babies in safe box - 30th September 2022

At Japan's Jikei hospital, women can leave their babies in the 'baby hatch'. The mothers are usually frightened, but they know their babies will be looked after.

Takeshi Hasuda is the head doctor at Jikei.

Takeshi Hasuda: "The most important role our baby hatch system has played so far is to provide a sort of last resort for women left alienated by society, when they have an unexpected pregnancy or unwanted pregnancy."

When a baby is put in the hatch, the nurses hurry to collect it. If possible, they look for the mother. They try to offer her help and get some details. The information may be useful later in the child's life, to know about their family.

Koichi Miyatsu, now 18, was left in the baby hatch as a small child. He's certain his own mother did the right thing.

Koichi Miyatsu: "The day I was left there was the day a new chapter of my life began. I think it was good that I was given to the baby hatch. Because I was given to the hatch, I met my current parents and now live like this. I am grateful for it. I owe what I am today to the baby hatch."

Baby hatches exist in other countries as well, such as South Korea, Pakistan and the US. But in some places, they're forbidden by law.

The Jikei example's the only one in Japan and the Catholic church is responsible for it. Generally, the hatches aren't popular there.

Nurses have cared for 161 babies since the start, in 2007. The service is very private, but 80 percent have found out their birth mother's name. One in five has gone back to their parents or relatives.