The harsh reality of adopting in Japan episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 28, 2025 · 1H 30M

The harsh reality of adopting in Japan

from Unpacking Japan · host Produced by ZenStudio

Today we speak with Andrew, an American who became a foster and adoptive parent in Japan. He opens up about the challenges of navigating Japan’s child welfare system, cultural differences in parenting, and what inspired him to open his home to children in need. Andrew shares his personal journey, misconceptions people often have about adoption in Japan, and how he’s working to change the narrative around fostering and adoption.Follow Andrew:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneumanFollow Us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/Additional Links for information on adoption:The Family of Adoption: Completely Revised and Updatedhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/962764.The_Family_of_Adoption作家デビュー十年で新境地となった、出産を...『朝が来る』辻村深月 | 文春文庫https://books.bunshun.jp/ud/book/num/9784167991333Yokohama Yankee: My Family’s Five Generations as Outsiders in Japan - Deutsches Institut für Japanstudienhttps://www.dijtokyo.org/ja/event/yokohama-yankee-my-familys-five-generations-as-outsiders-in-japan/Intercountry Adoptionhttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption/Intercountry-Adoption-Country-Information/Japan.htmlhttps://hermes-ir.lib.hit-u.ac.jp/hermes/ir/re/19634/keizaikenkyu06104342.pdfHere Comes the Sun: A Journey to Adoption in 8 Chakrashttps://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/23282195-here-comes-the-sunAdoption and Historical Background in Japanhttps://www.issj.org/adoption-web-en/roots/history/Why Is It Important to Increase Foster Care and Adoption Programs? | The Nippon Foundationhttps://en.nippon-foundation.or.jp/news/articles/2018/20180403-19604.htmlFamily Matters: Promoting Special Adoptions in Japan for the Good of Childrenen.nippon-foundation.or.jphttps://www.nippon.com/en/currents/d00393/戸籍の窓口II 養子縁組・特別養子縁組 | 日本加除出版https://www.kajo.co.jp/c/book/01/0101/49172000001?srsltid=AfmBOopYTAlN_Knqcz3XriqnOzldOi7_iveJSUDJM4kquuRDTCKLnu2q関連書籍 | 子どもたちに家庭をプロジェクトhttps://nf-kodomokatei.jp/book/里親と特別養子縁組https://www.chuko.co.jp/shinsho/2024/10/102826.html

Today we speak with Andrew, an American who became a foster and adoptive parent in Japan. He opens up about the challenges of navigating Japan’s child welfare system, cultural differences in parenting, and what inspired him to open his home to children in need. Andrew shares his personal journey, misconceptions people often have about adoption in Japan, and how he’s working to change the narrative around fostering and adoption.Follow Andrew:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneumanFollow Us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/Additional Links for information on adoption:The Family of Adoption: Completely Revised and Updatedhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/962764.The_Family_of_Adoption作家デビュー十年で新境地となった、出産を...『朝が来る』辻村深月 | 文春文庫https://books.bunshun.jp/ud/book/num/9784167991333Yokohama Yankee: My Family’s Five Generations as Outsiders in Japan - Deutsches Institut für Japanstudienhttps://www.dijtokyo.org/ja/event/yokohama-yankee-my-familys-five-generations-as-outsiders-in-japan/Intercountry Adoptionhttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/Intercountry-Adoption/Intercountry-Adoption-Country-Information/Japan.htmlhttps://hermes-ir.lib.hit-u.ac.jp/hermes/ir/re/19634/keizaikenkyu06104342.pdfHere Comes the Sun: A Journey to Adoption in 8 Chakrashttps://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/23282195-here-comes-the-sunAdoption and Historical Background in Japanhttps://www.issj.org/adoption-web-en/roots/history/Why Is It Important to Increase Foster Care and Adoption Programs? | The Nippon Foundationhttps://en.nippon-foundation.or.jp/news/articles/2018/20180403-19604.htmlFamily Matters: Promoting Special Adoptions in Japan for the Good of Childrenen.nippon-foundation.or.jphttps://www.nippon.com/en/currents/d00393/戸籍の窓口II 養子縁組・特別養子縁組 | 日本加除出版https://www.kajo.co.jp/c/book/01/0101/49172000001?srsltid=AfmBOopYTAlN_Knqcz3XriqnOzldOi7_iveJSUDJM4kquuRDTCKLnu2q関連書籍 | 子どもたちに家庭をプロジェクトhttps://nf-kodomokatei.jp/book/里親と特別養子縁組https://www.chuko.co.jp/shinsho/2024/10/102826.html

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The harsh reality of adopting in Japan

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This episode is 1 hour and 30 minutes long.

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This episode was published on November 28, 2025.

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Today we speak with Andrew, an American who became a foster and adoptive parent in Japan. He opens up about the challenges of navigating Japan’s child welfare system, cultural differences in parenting, and what inspired him to open his home to...

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