How you bear is how you live - your choice: Kazuko Sako at TEDxKyotoChange

Kazuko Sako was born in Ujiwara-cho, Kyoto Prefecture. From 1974 she became a midwife and in 1989 started a maternity center in Fushimi, Kyoto in an effort to revive natural childbirth, sending shockwaves throughout the midwife community. From 1995, through a JICA international project, she became involved in reforming Brazil's birth situation and has contributed to the decrease in Brazil's once over 90% rate of C-section births to 25% and the improvement of its once 60% newborn mortality rate. She stands as a legendary midwife who has delivered 1852 children.

"How You Bear is How You Live; Your Choice"
A dedicated midwife for 25 years, Ms. Kazuko Sako has long been inspiring mothers with the power to give birth naturally and their babies with the power to be born so. Why did Ms. Sako leave a hospital and start a maternity center? How have her activities and ideas influenced women's reproductive care in Brazil after being invited via JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)? Ms. Sako will deliver a heartfelt message to future mothers and their families around the world.

http://www.tedxkyoto.com/en/events-2/tedxkyotochange/

左古 かず子（さこ かずこ）
1946年、京都府宇治田原町生まれ。1974年から助産婦となり、自然なお産を取り戻すために89年に京都伏見で助産院を開業。新しく助産院を開業したことは、助産婦会に衝撃を与えました。JICAの国際プロジェクトで95年よりブラジルのお産状況の改善にかかわり、90%以上もあった帝王切開率を25%に、ある地域で60%もあった新生児死亡率の改善にも貢献しています。これまで通算1852人の赤ちゃんをとりあげてきた、伝説の助産師です。

『産み方は生き方、決めるのはあなた』
女性が本来持つ「自分で産む力」。胎児の持つ「自分で生まれる力」。それら を十分に引き出し、妊産婦を丸ごと受け入れ支える助産活動を26年間 続けてきた助産師の左古かず子さん。彼女はなぜ病院の出産現場を離れ、 自ら助産院を開業したのか? JICAに招かれて訪れたブラジルでの彼女の 活動は、彼の地の産科医療に何をもたらしたのか?左古かず子さんから、こ れから出産する世界中の女性とその家族たちへの熱いメッセージです。

http://www.tedxkyoto.com/ja/events-2/tedxkyotochange/

About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

http://www.tedxkyoto.com/en/about-ted/