Daily Life Lessons · Childcare
When you find out you are pregnant, submit a pregnancy notification to your municipality and receive the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, and be able to use it at prenatal checkups and at your child's health checkups and vaccinations.
The Maternal and Child Health Handbook (母子健康手帳, often called 母子手帳) is a single booklet that records health information from pregnancy through early childhood. Under the Maternal and Child Health Act, anyone, regardless of nationality, can receive one from the municipality where they live.
When you find out you are pregnant, submit a pregnancy notification (妊娠の届け出) to your municipality and you will be issued the handbook. What to bring (such as something showing your My Number (マイナンバー) and an ID document) differs by municipality.
The handbook records prenatal checkups (妊婦健診), the birth, your child's growth, and infant health checkups (乳幼児健診) and vaccinations. Always bring it to checkups, vaccinations and hospital visits. Foreign-language versions in 10 languages, such as English, Chinese and Vietnamese, also exist. Ask at your municipal office whether you can receive one. They can also be downloaded from the Children and Families Agency's (こども家庭庁) Maternal and Child Health Handbook information support site.
母子手帳（ぼしてちょう）は、お母さんと 子どもの 健康（けんこう）を 書く 手帳です。 外国人も もらえます。
1. 妊娠（にんしん）が わかったら、市役所（しやくしょ）や 区役所（くやくしょ）に 行きます。 2. 妊娠届（にんしんとどけ）を 出します。 3. 母子手帳を もらいます。
- 持ち物（もちもの）は 市や 区で ちがいます。先に 聞きましょう。 - 健診（けんしん）や 予防接種（よぼうせっしゅ）の とき、いつも 持っていきます。 - 英語、中国語、ベトナム語など 10の 言葉（ことば）の 手帳も あります。もらえるか どうか、窓口（まどぐち）で 聞いてください。こども家庭庁（こどもかていちょう）の サイトでも 見られます。
What do you do first to receive the Maternal and Child Health Handbook?
When you find out you are pregnant, submit a pregnancy notification to the municipality where you live and receive the handbook.
Can people of foreign nationality receive the handbook?
It is issued by the municipality where you live, regardless of nationality.
Which of these is NOT recorded in the handbook?
The handbook is a health record from pregnancy through early childhood. School grades are not written in it.
What should you bring when you take your child for a vaccination?
Vaccination records are written in the handbook, so always bring it.
What if you cannot read Japanese?
Foreign-language versions exist in 10 languages, such as English, Chinese and Vietnamese. Ask at your municipal counter whether you can receive one; they can also be downloaded from the Children and Families Agency's site.
Q. What do I need for the pregnancy notification?
A. It differs by municipality, but you are often asked for something showing your My Number (such as a My Number Card (マイナンバーカード)) and an ID document (such as a residence card (在留カード) or passport). If a family member or someone else submits it for you, a letter of proxy (委任状) may be required. Check your municipality's website or counter before you go.
Q. What if I lose the handbook?
A. You can ask about reissue at your municipal counter. The checkup and vaccination records written so far will not be in the new handbook. The municipality keeps records of routine vaccinations given by the municipality for a certain period and may be able to provide them, so contact your municipality's vaccination counter. Taking photos of the pages with your smartphone ahead of time gives peace of mind.
Q. What should I do with vaccination records from abroad?
A. Keep your foreign vaccination records (certificates, etc.) and show them, together with the handbook, to your municipality's vaccination counter or a doctor for advice. A doctor will look at the records and decide how to treat the vaccinations already received.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original