[JohnBraden]

I have heard that Japanese orphanages only accept adoptions from Japanese people. Perhaps that is to protect the child and have him brought up in the Japanese way.

I have also heard that some children in orphanages may not actually be orphans. They may have been brought there by mothers who can't actually care for them but still have some custody over them.

As I have said, these are things I've heard, and, while they may make some sort of sense to me, I cannot vouch for their validity....