Circumcision?
 

We may be moving to Japan and our son is one year old and intact (not circumcised.)

I've read that Japan is a non-circumcising country and culture, is this true? I hope so.

Does it matter at all? Seems like whats in his own pants is his own business... :/

You would think so, but some people in the US make a big deal about not being circumcised and I'd like to avoid that kind of social climate again, if possible.

I think you're worrying too much... I mean maybe people would care in some highly religious Jewish communities (but even then why would they be running though everyones pants checking the status???), but I'd say 99% of everyone else doesn't care at all... :/

Non-circumcised is more common than circumcised. You'll be fine.

Not ever topic needs to be a debate, imiss.

Are you a parent?

Do you have boys?

Trust me, this is a testy issue in the States with some people.

When I changed my son in front of a friend of my spouse's, she gasped and asked me when I would be getting him cut. When I replied: NEVER, she was disgusted and proceeded to tell me how it's gross to be uncut.

That's just one example, I've had several experiences here like that and I don't want people talking that kind of junk around my son when he gets older and if he gets involved in sports.

Really?! Wow, I never knew it was such a big deal. Here in England, at least the people I know, really don't give a damn and it's completely not the done thing [well, as far as I know anyway xD], unless it's part of your religion or something.

To be honest I find it quite cruel, I don't understand the need for it as your body wasn't supposed to have bits chopped off it xD

Anyway, I think it's a personal question and I don't understand how a person would find out unless the person wanted them to. So just do what you feel is best, and don't consider what other people think of you, although it may be difficult.

No, I'm not a parent, but yes I am male. Been living here in the states since I was 8.

And I think this "issue" is just like any other, a matter of preference. Its like discussing guys w/ pierced ears, some may think its "disgusting" and most others won't care either way.

In my own opinion, to sum it all up, cut = like a dried up mushroom, uncut = as it should be, as all animals have had for millions of years, obviously if it wouldn't be needed, evolution would get rid of it itself... :rolleyes:

It is a bigger deal in the US than Japan. That hopefully answers your question.

hahaha, was about to comment on what you said :p

I then realized it was the OP that made that comment.

But Japan isn't the US...

....I'm well aware.

Another reason I ask, aside from pesky folks, is because of doctors here in the US.

When my son was born, we were asked about 20 times if we wanted him circumcised, despite the fact that our birth plan stated "NO CIRCUMCISION." Every nurse and doctor kept asking, "He's not circumcised. You don't want him circumcised?"

And then pediatricians feel the need to advise me that my son is "more at risk". :rolleyes:

I'd just like to avoid this circumcising mindset.

There are a few health reasons that make the procedure a must in my opinion. But you have to weigh them against the cultural issues, as well.

Unless a health issue arises I don't see the point in it. If I have a son he wont be circumcised. In the US, insurance will no longer cover it and people have to pay an extra $300-800 to circumcise. Japan doesn't cover it begin with. If he wants to be circumcised he's paying for it himself.

There are health reasons enough that it should be done as preventative care. Also, if it's to be done, it should be done as an infant. At an older agee there are more complications to the procedure.

Meh, I'll agree to disagree. I've learned enough that this is not a debate that can end nicely. The pregnancy forums are filled with them.

I have no dog in this fight.

Lol I was talking more along the lines of other people joining. I don't see us turning it ugly :)

Without wanting to turn this into a big debate thread, the health "benefits" are all outweighed by the rate of complications.

Circumsicion gives me the chills, but I'm sure it has to be good for something : D

the U.S is the only western, industrialized nation where male infants are expected to be circumcised.

then explain why the U.S has the highest STD/HIV rates than the rest of the developed nations that don't circumcised male infants?

Don't tell me you believe that stupid rumor...

SDTs don't "live" under the foreskin, nor does removing it somehow decrease the chances of getting them.

But lets say for example that silly rumor is true, lets say for example they magically live under it. Whats the problem with washing your genitals each time you go to shower? Its just like washing/wiping your butthole, if you don't wash it, of course its gonna be covered in crap...

Oops, misread what you said --- anyways, my point still stands, just not directed at you anymore..

Uh, I agree with you so I'm not sure where you're coming from. I think you misread my post....

This is completely true, but you will find countless people who offer up all sorts of information to support their beliefs... And to support the fact that it was done to them, so can`t be "bad".

I live in Japan - my son is "circumcised", or at least appears to be. Not by choice, but because he was born without the bottom 2/3rds of his penis (think just the top section of skin, as a sort of flap over a urethral opening sunken down between his testes), and in order to construct one they used what little foreskin was there.
But somehow I doubt that counts as circumcision, as it wasn`t like we chopped the thing off and tossed it.

Experiences - Circumcision is NOT something on anyone`s mind in Japan. It`s rare enough that no one will even assume that it has been done if they see a baby/child who has been. The assumption will be made that it`s an abnormally "adult" looking penis. End of story.

You`re more likely to find shock that you would do something so incredibly painful to a baby than anything else. When, for medical reasons, a circumcision needs to be performed (such as abnormal adhesion of the foreskin to the tip of the penis, etc) it is usually done at elementary school age.
There is pretty much no chance of having anyone comment on not having your son circumcised.

As another note - I`m not sure of your parenting "style", but having mucked around on a few US parenting boards and having been shocked by some of the things I found there.... Japan is generally a co-sleeping, "attachment" style when it comes to parenting.

It's none of her business, though, and she has no right to say stuff like that. If she wants to get her son done (if she has one or is planning on having one) that's fine, but she shouldn't be judging other people.

I personally don't think it should be done unless it needs to be for health reason, but each to their own.

I don't see anything wrong with having your kid circumcised. IMO, it seems like it'd be easier to keep clean or whatever (to prevent a possible infection, if one does occur, hopefully not), and it also seems like it'd be neater, but, whatever you decide shouldn't be anyone's business but your own. No one needs to know if your kid has been circumcised or not, unless you parade your kid around for all to see.

I think I said that in my first post on this thread.:)

Wrong. there's a reason they are still inventing methods to do the job quickly in Africa to stop the spread. Are you telling me that germs don't propigate under the fingernails?

no, What I'm saying is WASH your damn genitals. Of course if your a pig then you'll get infictions and so on. But I mean hey, it's as you yourself said it; there are germs under the fingernails too, so while you're at it let's just chop the fingers off if you're too lazy to wash your hands...

I agree. And eat them, too.

Wait what? Are you suggesting eating the genitals? :eek:

And to add to what I said... things like AIDS are spreading though Africa NOT because people aren't cut (that has no effect on the transfer of STDs) -- its because people don't know the most basic things about how/what works and where what comes from.

Haha... It's not like we uncut folk don't clean underneath it. In fact it's part of the daily shower routine. :mtongue:

Of course aids isn't spreading in africa because of this. But it is one part of a multi-pronged defense. Your posts imply people only not the most basic of superficial aspects.

Ronin! I hpoe so. No one noted a corellation between uncut and not washing. Even if you wash your hands often, you put your hands to face and catch a cold. Even cleanly catch colds. Even if you wash, germs can still grow and cause problems before washing.

This is not the only medical issue with the procedure. Just the one people find most alluring.

Thank you, this is exactly the answer I was looking for.

As for attachment parenting, we're kind of AP, but not fully. It's nice to know they don't persecute people for co-sleeping in Japan like they do in the US! If you say you co-sleep with your child, people look at like you've just admitted to poisoning your child!

Are you sure about that? I don't know anyone who'd be against sharing a bed with his or her child. My own parents used to do that with me, but after a certain age, it looks strange because as a child gets older, the child is supposed to become more and more independent from his or her parents.

In my experience, co-sleeping isn't looked upon favorably.

And pediatricians especially will scold you and tell you it's "dangerous" to co-sleep with your child.

You have a very close family.

In general, if you make the comment that you sleep with your child at any stage of their life you`ll either be told that you`re going to kill them (when they`re a baby), that you are an awful parent if they`re between say 1 and 3... or told that you`re sick and there is something wrong with your household. Making babies sleep alone, through the night, at a VERY early age seems to be one of the foremost issues in everyone`s mind. Including doctors, who shouldn`t really care about the issue.

I can`t talk with most parents in the US about child-raising issues, as they DO ask, and they ARE disgusted enough by the fact that my son doesn`t even have his own bed let alone sleep away from us in it during the night. It`s become less of a topic now that he`s 4 - but only because no one thinks that we`d actually have him sleeping with us at night. That`s just not "normal".

I recall being told by someone that it was downright disgusting that I was still "letting" my son into our bed when he was 3 months old and that I would ruin his life by not MAKING him learn that he needs to be away from me. NOW. Because, obviously, a baby wanting to be near a parent - no matter how young they may be - was slyly trying to manipulate me.

Don`t believe it? Look at some English language parenting books or spend a few minutes browsing through any parenting website. Mothers are ashamed to even admit that they fell asleep next to their baby by accident, let alone invite them into the "parental bed".

That's sad that people got on you for you sharing the bed with a three month old. It wasn't often my parents shared the bed with me when I was like six or seven or so, but I'd say up to at least eight or nine, if I had a bad dream, I'd run to my parents' room and mom would let me get in the bed with them.

I remember during my nap times, sometimes my dad would take a nap with me when I was very young.

Oh yeah!! A funny story. lol My parents told me that when I was about a year old, maybe slightly older (and we were still living in NY at that time and lived in an apt), I used to throw myself out of my crib, run up the hall (my mom said it was a long hallway for a kid my age) and hop in the bed with them. My mom said it was scary hearing that sound, and then footsteps coming fast up the hall like Stewie of Family Guy. lol She said she'd put me back, but she'd hear the "thump" and then the footsteps. I was a strange baby. =P

I know my aunt used to sleep with all of her kids sharing the bed with her when they were babies (they're pretty much grown now; her youngest is now 17). She was talking about it the other day of how she used to let them stay in the bed with her to keep from having to get up and down to check on them when they cried. She even laughed, "I don't know why I had a crib."

My grandmother shared the bed with my cousin (now 14) when she was a baby since my family took care of her, since her mother was still in the Navy at the time. My grandmother also used to share a bed with me when I was about seven, but only because my aunt (the one I just mentioned whose youngest is now 17) and her firstborn (he was about two) and her bf were staying with us. My grandmother, for the most part, has always lived with my family.

I guess my family is close since I see nothing wrong with parents and children sharing a bed since I grew up with it. I just outgrew that need, though, as I got older, especially after we moved to the newer house when I was eight. Mom and dad were upstairs, and I was downstairs. If I had a bad dream, and called for one of them, they usually couldn't hear me, so I just had to deal with it on my own since I was too scared to get up and go upstairs to them on my own. Instead, I'd just sleep with the light on, and then dad would come down and cut it off.

That aside, I don't think anyone should get on a parent for sharing a bed with his or her kid, especially if the child is young and still attached to the parent. Now if the child is into his/her teens, then I'd be a bit worried since that indicates too much of an attachment. The problem is that people always assume something of a sexual nature now-a-days, which is just beyond sad.