"I have heard that (the strollers) are popular in Japan as well. I would like to request that people refrain from using them," Fukushima told reporters.

About 170,000 of the strollers have been sold in Japan since 2002.

In Japan, there have been four reports of children getting their fingers caught in the hinge mechanisms of the strollers when they are opened or folded, according to officials of the Japanese import agent for the strollers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has said Maclaren would voluntarily recall its single and double umbrella strollers made in China following reports of children's fingertips being amputated by the strollers' hinge mechanisms. The commission said Maclaren has received 15 reports of children putting their fingers in the strollers' hinge mechanisms, of which 12 cases involved children's fingertips being cut in the United States.

The commission is calling on consumers to immediately stop using the strollers and to contact Maclaren's U.S. unit, Maclaren USA Inc., to receive a free repair kit.

Tokyo-based import agent Nomura Premium Brands Ltd. plans to take preventive measures as early as possible by offering the same free repair kits distributed in the United States to cover the hinge mechanism.

Maclaren's strollers are popular because they can be operated easily without using much force.

About 1 million strollers were sold in the United States by Maclaren USA for $100 to $360 mainly through mass merchandise retailers from 1999 to November 2009, according to the commission.