This page includes information for pregnant women and the kinds of services and allowances they can expect from the city. Please note that only people who are covered by National Health Insurance (kokumin hoken) or the Social or Employee's Health Insurance (shakai hoken) will be eligible for these services and allowances. Generally, this means that the woman must have a visa that allows her to stay for at least one year in Japan.
Pregnant women should hand in a pregnancy registration form (at Health Centers around the city) and receive their Mother and Child Health Handbook (boshi techo). This handbook serves as a record of the child's medical care and development. Foreign residents of Tsukuba will receive a supplement to the handbook. This supplement contains tickets for medical checkups and vaccinations.
Pregnant women should have checkups regularly in order to discover any complications that may arise. Pregnant women are entitled to two medical checkups during pregnancy: once in the first half of their pregnancy and once in the second half as stated in Mother and Child Health Handbook. Bring the tickets from the handbook supplement (mentioned above) to the free general checkups.
Families under the National Health Insurance (kokumin hoken) or the Social or Employee's Health Insurance (shakai hoken) can apply for and receive a subsidy to partially offset the costs of childbirth. Apply to either the National Insurance and Pension Division of City Office or your workplace. Please note that there are some cases when you are not able to receive the Assistance of Childbirth Expenses. For example, it may not be possible to receive this subsidy if a child is born in another country (depending on the conditions at the time of leaving Japan and the status of Alien Registration).
There are two types of maternity classes: one for mothers only and the other for both parents. These classes include information on first time pregnancies, childbirth and childcare. You need to make a reservation for these classes. Contact the Oho Health Center.
Topics: Children, Health, Women
Relevant for: Residents
Please note: While all efforts have been made to offer accurate and up-to-date information on this site, the information is presented as a guideline and is subject to change without notification. Phone numbers, addresses, and/or policies may have changed since this page was created. Please contact the appropriate section of the City Hall for confirmation of information and city policies.