Motherhood can be daunting under even the best of circumstances, but, as a lesbian, considering starting a family brings with it a whole new set of difficulties.
The Japan Times talks to three women who have sought to overcome the hurdles presented by raising a family in Japan within a gay partnership.
The main difficulty faced by Mia is other people's attempts to identify her sexuality. She's been living with her Japanese female partner for 10 years, but has simultaneously had a relationship with a German man for the past six years.