An interesting query came to Lifelines from LS, a reader in the United States who was born in Tokyo and lived here until her teens. She writes:
I received vaccination shots as a baby and child through the Japanese hospital. I no longer have my shot record and want to find out what vaccinations were required between 1965 and 1975 in Japan.
When a woman becomes pregnant in Japan, she can go to her local city office to receive a small booklet, commonly referred to as the "Boshi Techo." The booklet has two purposes: first as a record of the mother's health during her pregnancy, and then of the baby's progress after delivery. Vaccinations are also recorded in it, serving as a useful reference as the child grows up.