The Current State of Professional Midwives in Japan and their Traditional Virtues

Abstract

 Traditionally, Japanese women endure labor pain. They are then pleased by the sense of ac
complishment after a successful vaginal childbirth, a concept based on the Japanese Buddhism. 
Therefore, Japanese midwives place importance on the process and devote care for pregnant 
women throughout the experience. Professional midwives in Japan strive to monitor the child
birth process with devotion and identify any abnormality with modern scientific knowledge in 
the small midwifery rooms of hospitals and clinics, in cooperation with obstetricians. Recently 
a new midwifery category has evolved called “advanced midwife” that do not work under a 
physician’s direct supervision, but rather practice independently and in harmony with the doc
tors.