More women are returning to the traditional way of giving birth in Japan -- under the care of midwives -- and becoming less reliant on invasive medical procedures and drugs.
At the Mejiro Birth House in Tokyo's Toshima Ward, a 34-year-old woman delivered a 3.36 kg boy in a Japanese-style room. Her husband and daughter were present during her eight hours of labor.
"If you are mentally comfortable, the delivery is much easier," the mother said. "I could trust the midwife, and it was a luxury for me to be able to be relaxed."