My son carries tradition in a school matsuri

In view of increasing dual-nationality marriages and the high statistics on divorce and custody disputes, numerous countries are finally stepping up to challenge Japan’s non-participation in the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, designed to secure proper return of children taken or retained illegally in signatory countries.

Japan’s failure to sign this treaty actually seems to be creating family discord and encouraging child abduction, rather than reducing them. I’ve been involved in some of these cases, and they are heart-breaking.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who has raised the issue with Japan Foreign Ministry officials, says that his government is aware of about 70 cases involving over 100 children with U.S. parents. He claims that defenses that some situations involve escape from domestic violence are almost entirely specious and unfounded, and that the American position is that children should grow up with access to both parents, a position that in fact is counter to Japan’s.

In Japan, only one parent, almost invariably the Japanese one, get any parental rights, even including visitation, under law and custom, regardless of whether there is a divorce or a foreign court ruling regarding custody. Campbell hopes that a resolution may be found via diplomacy, but has not ruled out other options, as both the U.S. administration and Congress are now addressing the matter.

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In preparation for those meetings, Japan’s Foreign Ministry has set up a new division to handle international child custody issues, including possible signing of the Hague Convention, while noting that Japan would also have to change provisions of its Civil Code to allow both parents to have parental rights after a divorce.

Dual-nationality children enjoy special opportunities, and I know many who have become enormously successful in international business and government. They deserve the contributions of both parents to chart their course and form strong, stable personalities. I’m working on that with mine. Imagine what they can do with that!