maternity
Maternal and Child Health Handbook
母子健康手帳 (boshi kenkō techō)
The Maternal and Child Health Handbook (boshi kenkō techō) is an official booklet issued by municipal offices when a pregnancy is registered. It records all prenatal checkups, labor and delivery details, and the child's growth, vaccinations, and health milestones from birth through school age. Many municipal offices can provide a version in the mother's language. The handbook also contains vouchers for subsidized prenatal checkups and must be carried to every medical appointment.
The boshi techō is a critical document for all maternal and child health appointments in Japan and is required at prenatal checkups, birth registration, and infant health visits.
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Maternal and Child Health Handbook |
| Japanese (日本語) | 母子健康手帳 |
| Chinese (中文) | 母子健康手册 |
| Korean (한국어) | 모자 건강 수첩 |
| Portuguese | Caderneta de saúde materno-infantil |
| Spanish | Libreta de salud materno-infantil |
| Filipino | Mother and Child Health Handbook |
| Thai | สมุดสุขภาพแม่และเด็ก |
| Vietnamese | Sổ sức khỏe mẹ và bé |
| Romanization | boshi kenkō techō |
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Read the guide →Last reviewed: September 2026