The Justice Ministry rule that went into effect May 21 allows birth registrations "as exceptions" for newborns if a medical certificate is presented to prove the pregnancy began after divorce.

A woman from Sumida Ward, Tokyo, applied to register her 4-month-old son under her current husband's name. The woman gave birth to the boy prematurely on the 292nd day after her divorce.

The 38-year-old woman's current husband had officially recognized the baby as born to him through the mediation of a family court. The woman said she waited until May 21 to make the application with the Sumida Ward Office because the name of her divorced husband would have remained in the family registry if she had applied before the ministry notice took effect.

At least two other women in Tokyo — a 36-year-old in Adachi Ward and a 32-year-old in Shinjuku Ward — also presented applications for their children with their respective municipal governments.

According to the Justice Ministry, 20 women filed such applications in 13 prefectures.

Without a birth certificate, a baby cannot be entered in the family registry or registered as a resident. Such registration is necessary to obtain official documents such as passports.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 26, 2007
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