Foreign-Resident Adoptive Parents in Japan: Navigating Adoption Through the Family Stress Model

Adoption in Japan remains rare and complex, particularly for foreign-resident adoptive families navigating legal ambiguity and social norms surrounding blood lineage. This qualitative study explores the experiences of foreign-resident couples residing in Japan who have adopted Japanese children. Using narrative inquiry informed by the Family Stress Model, the study draws on interviews to examine how families interpret and respond to adoption-related stress. Findings highlight challenges including bureaucratic uncertainty and social visibility, alongside coping strategies of community support and narrative meaning-making. The study contributes to adoption research by documenting the largely understudied experiences of foreign-resident adoptive families in Japan.