Seattle Legal Blog: Divorce, Child Custody, Domestic Violence & Mediation

US Official In Talks With Japan Regarding International Child Custody Issues

Many countries around the world agree that Japan’s child custody laws often unfairly treat foreign ex-spouses and sometimes lead to child abductions to the island country. However, Japan has been hesitant to speak out regarding their strange international child custody actions, including a recent case involving an American father who has lost contact with his two children after his ex-wife moved to Japan following the divorce.

In Japan, usually only one parent gets custody of the children in the wake of a divorce, and many agree that the system is somewhat biased against fathers.

This week, however, the top US diplomat for East Asia Kurt Campbell met with top Japanese officials in order to voice the United State’s concern with Japan’s policies. Japan is the only first world country that did not sign the 1980 Hague Convention that outlines appropriate international child custody actions. Justice Minister Keiko Chiba agreed that the subject was an important one to discuss.