This was in response to a Sunday New York Times magazine article on pregnancy loss in Japan. The unedited version mentioned comparative stories produced for the morning show "Zoom In! Asa" and Midwifery Today article [see below]. May 12th: NYT Magazine and website.

There is another shrine, called Suitengu, that complements the temple Orenstein visited. Suitengu is situated in a northeastern Tokyo neighborhood called Ningyocho, or Doll Town, which is full of small maternity and toy shops. The shrine is dedicated to the safety of mother and child in pregnancy and childbirth. This shrine and Zozo-ji, the temple described in the article, reflect a Japanese sensibility that spiritualizes the perils and losses associated with pregnancy -- whether merely feared, actually encountered or happily averted.

Michele Kriegman
Morristown, N.J.

Original NY Times Letter to the Editor about a Japanese Temple