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Japanese runner freezes eggs to chase motherhood dream

The Straits Times

|

June 06, 2024

She joins growing trend Japan hopes will stem further declines in the birth rate

Japanese runner freezes eggs to chase motherhood dream

Japanese champion runner Tomomi Bitoh completed a 170km race in the Himalayas last November and immediately made a beeline for a Tokyo clinic to begin freezing her eggs, hoping to keep alive her dream of becoming a mother.

The 33-year-old former childcare worker is one of a growing number of Japanese women joining in a trend the authorities in the world's most advanced ageing society hope will stem further declines in the birth rate.

"I have this big dream of becoming No. 1 in the world," said Ms Bitoh, who finished second among women in the 2021 Marathon des Sables, regarded as one of the world's toughest long-distance races. "I don't think that's something I can do 10 or 20 years from now after having a child. It's now or never."

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