Koichi Miyatsu, a 21-year-old university student, vividly remembers the “baby hatch” door at Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto, where he was placed as a toddler. Now, he’s transforming his early experiences into a mission to teach children about the value of life.
Miyatsu was one of 179 children anonymously placed in Jikei Hospital’s care between 2007 and 2023, through Japan’s first baby hatch inspired by Germany’s “Stork’s Cradle.” This system allows parents unable to care for their children to leave them safely in a designated facility. When a child is placed in the hatch, staff are immediately alerted to ensure their protection, and the process involves coordination with child welfare authorities and the police to safeguard against legal violations like child abandonment.
Raised by foster parents after his biological mother’s death when he was five months old, Miyatsu felt fully accepted by his foster family. Reflecting on a visit to his mother’s gravesite, he said, “I felt I was accepted as their real son.” Despite occasionally facing pity from others, he proudly shares that his foster parents provided him with a loving home.
Today, Miyatsu directs “University for Kids Kumamoto”, an educational program inspired by Germany’s KinderUni. It offers free events twice a year, featuring activities and lectures on topics like life studies and local pride. In March, actress Misako Konno read a poignant picture book about loss during World War II to highlight the importance of cherishing everyday life.
At one event, children participated in a baby doll simulation to learn the significance of caring for life. The program left a deep impact, with participants expressing gratitude for their parents and a desire to care for living things.
The initiative’s principal, Yukiko Tajiri, who also served as a maternity nurse at Jikei Hospital, was instrumental in the hatch’s establishment. Tajiri encouraged Miyatsu to educate families on life’s importance, drawing inspiration from KinderUni programs that foster intellectual curiosity and values among children.
In Japan, children’s universities have spread across a dozen prefectures, promoting shared learning for parents and kids. Tajiri emphasizes Kumamoto’s unique role, saying, “We have an obligation to tell people about life and how it should be lived from Kumamoto, the birthplace of the baby hatch.”
Miyatsu’s journey from baby hatch child to advocate is a testament to resilience, love, and the transformative power of education.
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