Under Japan’s current custody system, an estimated 150,000 children lose access to a parent annually.
Things may or may not be different starting next year. In May 2024, the country’s legislature approved an amendment to its civil code, introducing the option of shared custody for divorced parents, and the law is scheduled to take effect by 2026. However, under this new system, joint custody will only be granted if both parents agree, otherwise leaving the family court to decide what’s best. This is leading many to view the change as largely symbolic.
The current system has wrought generational trauma on countless children, stripping them of parents, extended family and, sometimes, an entire culture and identity. Cases involving foreign nationals can become an international matter, sometimes involving even the U.N. and Interpol.
After years of legal battles, some parents manage to reconnect with their children, if the custodial parent allows it. But many become strangers to their kids. They can’t access medical records or take part in any decisions relating to the child’s school or health. They don’t know where they live and can’t see them.
They cease to exist.