[Event Report] Midwife and Experienced Dads Take the Stage! Vitalnet Hosts 'First-Time Parenting and Paternity Leave' Seminar at Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.

On March 13, 2026, we held a "First-Time Parenting and Paternity Leave" preparation seminar for employees of Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd. (https://www.yuyama.co.jp/), a medical device manufacturer based in Osaka Prefecture.

The seminar featured expert insights from GuuMin advisor and midwife Eriko Yanone, alongside three members of "Papa-Iku Commu," an online community dedicated to fathers' participation in childcare, who have all taken paternity leave. They discussed the physical and mental changes women experience from pregnancy through the postpartum period, as well as the realities of taking paternity leave, the feelings of partners, and how to provide effective support.

The event was held in a hybrid format at Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.'s headquarters and online. A total of 26 participants attended, ranging from young employees preparing for life events to expectant parents, employees currently raising children, and HR personnel. It served as an opportunity to think about how to approach upcoming childcare and how partners can support one another.

Seminar Details

Date & Time: Friday, March 13, 2026, from 17:30

Target Audience: Employees of Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Expectant parents to those who have just started raising children)

Venue: Hybrid (Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd. Headquarters and Online)

Participants: 16 in-person, 10 online

Speakers: Eriko Yanone (Midwife/GuuMin Advisor), Mizuho Tadano (GuuMin Senior Consultant), and Papa-Iku Commu members: Nittan, Blow, and Izumi

Seminar Content

The seminar conveyed the realities of childcare from pregnancy through the postpartum period by combining the professional expertise of a midwife with the personal experiences of the "Papa-Iku Commu" members. The program was designed to focus not just on providing knowledge, but on shifting mindsets regarding how couples view childcare.

The first half covered themes such as "Recommendations for Shared Parenting" and "Enjoying Pregnancy and Postpartum in Your Own Way," explaining the physical and mental changes in women and the expected role of partners. In the second half, the Papa-Iku Commu members shared real-life experiences that can only be told by those who have been there, including the conflicts they faced when taking leave, misunderstandings with partners, and the types of involvement they found most rewarding.

The latter part of the seminar included an interactive mini-workshop. Participants were asked to identify "one action they want to start today to move toward shared parenting." This allowed participants to move beyond theoretical understanding and provided an opportunity to view childcare as a personal responsibility.