The Maternity Mark in Japan: What It Is and How to Get One

What Is the Maternity Mark?

The Maternity Mark (マタニティマーク) is an official symbol that has been promoted in Japan since 2006. It was originally established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) and is now administered by the Children and Families Agency (こども家庭庁). It shows a stylised pregnant woman inside a heart shape, with the words お腹に赤ちゃんがいます — "There is a baby in my tummy" — printed around the edge.

The mark is worn on a bag or clothing, usually attached as a keyring charm or a sticker. Early pregnancy is invisible from the outside — the mark tells people nearby that you are pregnant and may need a seat on the train, a smoke-free space, or a helping hand.

It is not a legal document or a ticket to any specific service. It is a social signal, widely recognised across Japan.

What It Asks of Others

The official こども家庭庁 campaign asks three specific things of people who see the mark:

• Offer your seat on trains and buses (電車やバスで席を譲りましょう)
• Speak to her if she looks unwell (体調の悪そうな妊婦さんがいたら声をかけましょう)
• Stop smoking near her (妊婦さんの近くでは喫煙をやめましょう)

Priority seating areas (優先席 / yūsen seki) on trains and buses in Japan display the Maternity Mark alongside other symbols. If you wear the mark and stand near priority seats, it is entirely reasonable to expect that passengers nearby will notice.

When to Start Wearing It

There is no fixed rule. You can start wearing the mark from the moment you find out you are pregnant. Many women begin around the time they register their pregnancy at the ward office and receive their 母子健康手帳 (boshi kenkō techō — the Mother and Child Health Handbook), as this is also when they often receive a mark for the first time.

Early pregnancy — when morning sickness can be severe and the bump is not yet visible — is actually when the mark is most useful. It is also a period when sitting down on a crowded train can make a real difference to how you feel.

Where to Get One

There are three main ways to get a Maternity Mark:

Twin and Triplet Versions

In November 2024, こども家庭庁 released official Maternity Mark designs for women carrying twins or triplets. The new designs show two or three baby silhouettes within the heart shape, making the situation immediately visible to others. If you are expecting multiples, look for these versions at your ward office or download them from the official site.

© こども家庭庁 — official Maternity Mark designs

Why It Helps

Japan's trains get crowded, and asking for a seat in Japanese is not easy when you are still learning the language. The mark handles that for you — no words needed. Women who have used it mention a few things that made a real difference:

• Getting a seat on the train during morning sickness, when the bump is not yet showing
• Being noticed quickly if you feel faint or unwell in public
• People stepping back or moving away if they are smoking nearby
• Receiving offers of help with heavy bags or on staircases

If You Feel Uncomfortable Wearing It

Some women prefer not to wear the mark visibly — for personal reasons or because of unwanted attention. This is entirely valid. One practical option is to keep the mark inside your bag rather than on the outside. The keyring design makes this easy: it clips inside a zip pocket and can be quickly shown to a staff member or fellow passenger if you need help.

You do not need to wear it at all times. Many women keep it for train journeys and remove it in other settings.

The Help Mark

Japan also has a separate ヘルプマーク (Help Mark) — a red rectangular tag with a white cross and heart. It is designed for anyone who needs assistance that is not visible from the outside: people with disabilities, invisible conditions, or others who may need support in public. Pregnant women who prefer a less pregnancy-specific symbol can use the Help Mark instead.

The Help Mark is distributed at metropolitan government offices and many train stations. Ask at your ward office or at the station for details.

Tap 🔊 Play to hear the phrase spoken aloud in Japanese.

Japanese Vocabulary