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Tag - parental-child-abduction

 
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July 25, 2026
 

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PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION

The Osaka District Court ordered the man to have his son appear at a hearing, but the man failed to bring him on all three designated dates.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jul 11, 2025
Osaka man detained for three weeks under human protection law
It is rare for a person to be detained under the human protection law, which has no clause on a specific period for such detentions, said an expert on Japan¡¯s family laws.
Legislation that allows the option of joint custody of children after divorce is passed at the Upper House plenary session on Friday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
May 17, 2024
Japan changes law to allow joint custody after divorce
For decades in Japan, one parent ¡ª almost always the mother ¡ª has been granted legal custody when a marriage ends.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Mar 15, 2024
Ai Fukuhara reaches custody settlement after abduction accusation
Although the physical custody of their son as well as their daughter will be with her ex-husband, the couple will continue to have joint custody over them.
If you've come to the realization that divorce is the only way forward, there are a host of details about the Japanese marriage system to confirm before you're finally ready to cut ties.
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Aug 21, 2023
Navigating the notorious gauntlet of divorce in Japan
Everyone wishes for ¡°happily ever after¡± no matter where you¡¯re from, but Japan recorded 1,671 bicultural divorces in 2021.
Members of the media take photos of lawyers Hsu Sung Po (left) and Aiko Ohbuchi (center) and Taiwanese table tennis player Chiang Hung-chieh at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan on Thursday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jul 27, 2023
Table tennis star Ai Fukuhara accused by ex-husband of abducting their son
The ex-husband, Taiwanese table tennis player Chiang Hung-chieh, has said that a court in Japan ruled that Fukuhara was required to hand over their son.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Dec 15, 2022
Frenchman¡¯s wife sues over ¡®parental kidnapping¡¯ claims
In the lawsuit, the woman claims that she has been defamed by the spread of the information, seeking damages and demanding that related articles be retracted.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 14, 2022
Japanese wife of French national cites lack of trust for not allowing child visitations
The Fichot case made headlines and was seen as a tragic case of a father not being able to see his children.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jul 20, 2022
Working draft includes option for Japan to introduce joint child custody
A subcommittee that advises the Justice Ministry will adopt the interim proposal at its next meeting, to be held at the end of August, and will solicit opinions from the general public.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Aug 4, 2021
A hunger strike reignites conversations about parental rights in Japan
Detractors of the country¡¯s system of sole parental authority say it promotes child ¡®abductions,¡¯ while supporters say change could exacerbate domestic abuse.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jul 31, 2021
EU envoys back Frenchman on hunger strike over Japan child custody
Japan, unlike most countries, does not recognize joint custody and children often lose contact with the noncustodial parent.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jun 18, 2020
European lawmakers chide Japan over abduction of children by a parent
European lawmakers lobbied by fathers unable to see children taken by Japanese mothers urged Tokyo on Tuesday to combat the abduction of minors by one parent and change a law that does not recognize joint custody after a split.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jan 17, 2020
In Japan, foreign parents lead charge against loss of child custody
A growing number of foreign nationals in Japan are speaking out against what they say is a little-known but entrenched system that allows one parent in a broken relationship to take away children and block the other from visiting them.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jan 15, 2020
Australian father gets suspended term for trespassing at in-law¡¯s Tokyo home
A Tokyo-based Australian journalist and father was given a suspended prison term of six months by the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday for illegally trespassing into a building complex where his in-laws live in Tokyo¡¯s Suginami Ward in October, in what the journalist said was an attempt to check on...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Jun 3, 2018
Left-behind dad¡¯s last resort: Impeach Japan¡¯s Supreme Court judges
Dogged father in Hague Convention case shines a light on a check-and-balance on the judiciary that barely functions.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
May 18, 2018
U.S. cites Japan for noncompliance with Hague treaty on cross-border parental child abductions
The move may help put greater pressure on Japan to comply with the treaty, observers say.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 13, 2018
Readers reach out to lost friends and family in Japan
Another of our occasional ¡®in search of¡¯ columns featuring people hoping for a blast from their pasts, along with an update on efforts to help children and parents in international abduction cases.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 15, 2018
Advice on HIV tests, Japanese pensions, rugby and reuniting with kids
Lifelines works through a selection of topics that have come our way recently.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Apr 1, 2018
Japan¡¯s Supreme Court orders a child be sent home in a Hague parental abduction case. Maybe.
Defanged habeas corpus grew some teeth in last month¡¯s Nagoya international custody ruling, but the problem of toothless enforcement remains.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Mar 15, 2018
Supreme Court breaks new ground, ruling in favor of U.S.-based Japanese father in international custody battle
The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in favor of a U.S.-based Japanese father seeking to reunite with his teenage son, who was taken by his estranged wife to Japan in 2016, concluding that the wife¡¯s dogged refusal to abide by an earlier court order mandating the minor¡¯s repatriation amounts to her ¡°illegally...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Dec 31, 2017
Japan¡¯s Supreme Court hands down a road map for parental child abductions
The top court¡¯s latest ruling suggests judges will find ways to avoid messy Hague Convention returns that Japan lacks the means to enforce anyway.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Head of Swiss euthanasia firm dies after collapsing while ascending Mount Fuji
Around 200,000 people typically scale the 3,776 meter Mount Fuji each year.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

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Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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