In Japan, divorce splits parents from children. Could a law change end sole custody?
In Japan, a significant change to the custody law is set to take effect on April 1, 2026, allowing divorced couples to share custody of their children. This revision aims to redefine family dynamics post-separation, addressing the long-standing issue of sole custody that often left one parent completely absent from their children's lives. Advocates believe this change will benefit children by maintaining relationships with both parents, while critics express concerns about potential conflicts between ex-partners.
- ▪Japan's new custody law will allow shared custody for divorced couples starting April 1, 2026.
- ▪Previously, Japan was the only G7 country without a legal concept of joint custody.
- ▪In 2024, 38.5% of marriages in Japan ended in divorce, with women retaining custody in over 86% of cases.
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| Publication time | Sat, 23 May 2026 23:44:22 GMT |
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In Japan, divorce splits parents from children. Could a law change end sole custody?8 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleKurumi MoriTokyo correspondentJiro Akiba/BBCIn Japan, until now only one parent held legal rights over the children after separationOn a weekday afternoon in Japan, John Deng stands near the playground, listening to other children play and laugh. His own son and daughter are nowhere in sight. He longs for the ordinary moments he once shared with his children: taking them to the park, watching them wake up, and being part of their lives.Deng, not his real name, is originally from Hong Kong and has lived in Japan for the past 22 years.
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