A top Japanese actress gave birth to her baby in Korea on Thursday at a “sanhujoriwon,” a post-natal care facility that is regarded as uniquely Korean, media reported on Sunday.

According to several Japanese and Korean media outlets, actress Koyuki Matsuyama gave birth to her daughter at a sanhujoriwon in Seoul. The mother was accompanied by her husband, renowned Japanese actor Kenichi Matsuyama. 

Reports suggested that Koyuki was impressed with the sanhujoriwon system providing full support for women who have just given birth, including wake-up calls for breastfeeding, special food for swift recovery, health checkups, educational sessions for childrearing, correctional massages on the pelvic area, room temperature management and more.

The actress reportedly learned about the facility last year through a Japanese TV show. One of the post-natal care units introduced in the program provides the full service for two weeks for around 1.5 million won. It reported that about 10 percent of its users are Japanese.

At that time, Koyuki said on the program that the facility is just what people need.

“During my first pregnancy and labor I faced various difficulties but I wasn’t able to cope with that on my own. In such facilities I can get information and help at the same time, which is efficient and helpful,” she said, expressing her hopes to give the second one a chance to be born in the Korean facility. The actress also said she would like to run one in the near future in Japan.

Koyuki shot to international stardom when she starred with Tom Cruise in “Last Samurai.” Matsuyama appeared in “Norwegian Wood,” “Death Note” and others.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)