By Will Espero

Midwives are not covered by health insurance in Japan. Liability insurance is available to women if they belong to the Japanese Midwives Association. These facts and more are unveiled in Traditional Midwife, a feature documentary from Japan directed by Paul Edwards Foulkes. Midwife Satoko-san, whose mother was also a midwife, shares her perspective and experiences as a Japanese midwife. From her mother’s connection to her patients, to the focus on the mother-to-be and her preparations, to legal and governmental challenges, the work of midwifery in Japan is explained and showcased in this  documentary. An actual birth of a child  in a midwifery situation is filmed and her pain and discomfort are real and can be felt. Traditional Midwife notes childbearing is a woman’s choice, and the decision to have a baby at home, in a midwife’s home, or a hospital can be controversial and criticized. Family discussion and involvement are important.The film is both educational and informative from the viewpoint of a strong advocate who is a caring experienced traditional midwife.

Paul Edward Foulkes

Living in Japan for the better part of 36 years, Paul has been involved in Radio, TV and managing Japanese Musical artists. “My love of the arts has bought me to this crossroads in my life”.

Paul began his filmmaking journey in 2015 when he produced the Award-winning short film Aimer, an LGBTQ+ fantasy short which won Best Fantasy Short at the New Renaissance Film Festival in Amsterdam in 2017. 

His second short film, directed, produced and acted by Paul, Reflections an LGBTQ+ film about a crossdresser, won Best Documentary short at the Norcal International Film Festival in October 2019, and Best Original Soundtrack at the Live Musica Contest (Concorsa Vivere di Musical) in December 2019. 

HIV Saved My Life is a feature documentary about Paul’s life where he talks about the good, the bad and the ugly of living with HIV that not only effects the person who has it but the people involved in his life. 

Paul’s life goal is to direct and produce shorts and features which bring into light social issues, both the dark side and the success stories which have evolved from the dark side. 

His latest project is about the sexual abuse of underage women, and how they have found their ‘voice’ in a society that still today suppresses their right to have it. The documentary is titled This Is My Brave and streaming on GlobalCinema.online. Also available on this channel, there there are Paul’s documentaries Flirting With Food and HIV Saved My Life.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Pregnant women in Japan who were infected had to stay at home for the lack of Hospital beds available. The infection became more important than newborn life itself. This was a time to reflect on how institutions coped with the pandemic. The answer was simple. Humans have been giving birth since time began, and traditions often become the solution. this is the story of a woman who chooses to give birth at home. Could this become a human rights issue? or will the establishments continue to know what is best? This is a women’s rights issue that needs to be addressed. 

Throughout 1yr or more, Paul traveled with Satoko-sensei, a Traditional Japanese Midwife based in Kyusyu Japan, from Asakura City. It was not only a pleasure to meet and become friends with Satoko-sensei, but she also taught me a great deal about Birth and life. I am forever overwhelmed by her sense of compassion and love towards all those women who she has helped to bring new life into this world.

Paul Edward Foulkes

Traditional Midwife is an Official Selection at the 2023 edition of the Global Nonviolent Film Festival, and it can be watched from September 28 to October 8 on GlobalCinema.online where the Festival is being broadcast. D!