Prospective adoptive parents may find children available for adoption in Japan either through the Japanese Family Court and the Child Guidance Center (often located in the City or Ward Office) or through private parties such as missionaries, social welfare organizations, or adoption agencies..

All adoption agencies in Japan are privately operated. If contemplating adoption in Japan you may also wish to consider the services of a Japanese attorney. While an attorney can be of assistance in guiding you through the Japanese adoption process, you are not required to retain one and many parents successfully adopt children in Japan without their services.

Before you begin your search for a child you may wish to consult the State Department's Information Sheet on International Adoption in Japan. This site provides you with excellent background on adoption laws and procedures in Japan as well as immigration requirements for bringing your new child back to the U.S. with you (see below).

Agency to Rescue Children
Diapalace #206, 1-4-8, Minami-Kashiwa, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba-ken 277-0855
Tel: 0471-45-6580
(Mrs. Utako KIKUCHI)

Ai No Kesshin
10-15 Hinode-cho, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka-ken 420-0837
Tel: 054-250-0217
(Sarah GORDON)

The Association for International Adoption of Babies
2-19-18, Fukumen Ohno-cho, Saiki-gun, Hiroshima-ken 739-0401
Tel: 082-956-2665
(Ms. Kiyoko KAGEYAMA – President)

Japan International Social Service
Nishimura Building Room 601, 3-6-18, Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153- 0051
Tel: 03-3760-3471
Fax: 03-3760-3474
(Mrs. Yaeko OTSUKI – General Director)




A Japanese child adopted by an American citizen must obtain an immigrant visa before he or she can enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. The type of Immigrant Visa the child should obtain will depend on many factors including, but not limited to, the circumstances of the adoption and whether the child will be "officially" adopted in Japan before immigrating or in the U.S. after arrival.

The first step in the adoption process, even before you have located a child, is to file the I-600A Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) office having jurisdiction over your place of residence. Once a parent has an approved I-600A, he or she may file an I-600 in person at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to begin processing the Immigrant Visa.

For more information on International Adoption, please visit the the : U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security web page on the subject.

The Embassy's Immigrant Visas web pages provide information on obtaining an Immigrant Visa for your new child at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or our Consulate in Naha.