Important information for anyone married to another from a different country. In the case of Japan. There have been numerous instances where Japanese Mothers after divorcing their American husbands, have abducted their children and returned to Japan. Japan has not yet signed the HAGUE TREATY so the American fathers are SOL.
Read article:

http://www.debito.org/?p=3481

 

John, that was an interesting article...
But there are also many cases of abandoned families in Japan.
Check this out: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?...icle=56118

But there are also many cases of abandoned families in Japan.
Check this out: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?...icle=56118

Yes, well certainly a sad situation but more appropriately the subject of another topic. Titled perhaps, "Abandoned families in Japan". Or, maybe we should infer that because some American spouses have abandoned their families in Japan that other Japanese spouses who have divorced are justified in subsequently abducting their children and returning to Japan thereby denying the Father his parental rights? Hmmmm.....I think not.

Or, maybe we should infer that because some American spouses have abandoned their families in Japan that other Japanese spouses who have divorced are justified in subsequently abducting their children and returning to Japan thereby denying the Father his parental rights? Hmmmm.....I think not.

I was not inferring any causal relationaship, I just wanted to point out another possible issue related to international marriage. Sorry for giving my two cents, it won't happen again. Have a good day

I am married to a Japanese woman. I actually was not aware of the HAGUE TREATY, and was an interesting read. I hope I never have to go through that process, but definitely may help some visitors that come to this site. Thanks for the info.

I will not justify what has happened in the past or anything, but please remember that there is always two sides to every story. I personally know of a woman that did just what you are talking about and it probably saved her children's lives and hers as well. There is almost nothing in the system available to Japanese spouses for abusive foreign husbands with SOFA status. You can read this and then retort that the military will handle them, but you are wrong. The military will attempt to handle it, but when one spouse is subject to local authorities' jurisdiction and the service member is under the protection of SOFA what you usually end up with is adjudication and that is just like saying "let's talk about it".

Again, I AM NOT JUSTIFYING IT...just want to ensure you don't start hating everyone that does it since some are left with no choice.

Good point

.just want to ensure you don't start hating everyone that does it since some are left with no choice.

The issue is not a matter of who or whether to hate someone. It is a matter of Law and Justice. It is not limited to only military personnel. Individuals who divorce under the cognizance of the U.S. Justice systems are required to abide by the decree of that court. In the vast majority of cases, one parent (usually the Mother) is given primary custody of the children and the Father is given by the court certain visitation rights. When the Mother abducts the children and returns to another country depriving the Father of his parental rights, that is a crime. The HAGUE TREATY serves the establish cooperation between countries in resolving these matters recognizing the the rights of the parent left without access to their children. The nature of divorce and the customary practices involving child custody traditionally practiced in Japan differ from what most Americans are used to. It is not uncommon but generally the rule that after divorce in Japan that the parent who does not receive custody will most likely not have any further contact with them. This is separate and apart from any agreement concerning child support payments. As an American, this has always been difficult for me to understand this aspect of Japanese culture which I cannot condone. I hold that it is a universal right of children to have a relationship with both of their parents and for both parents to to have the same with their children. Egregious examples of abusive and negligent spouses do not justify the violation of the law. As civilized human beings we are obliged to observe the law without which anarchy and chaos would ensue eliminating any possibility of justice. Individuals who abuse their families should be held accountable. Spouses who abduct their children to prevent them from having contact with the other parent should also be held accountable. Again, I would suggest that the issue of abusive and negligent U. S. Military husbands/fathers should be addressed in another topic. This topic addresses the issue of Child abduction by Japanese spouses. I sincerely wish that the Japanese government signs the HAGUE TREATY.

Again, I would suggest that the issue of abusive and negligent U. S. Military husbands/fathers should be addressed in another topic. This topic addresses the issue of Child abduction by Japanese spouses.

No offense mate, but I believe I was quite on topic as I was discussing a woman who "abducted" her children and returned to "her" country. I didn't provide details for reasons I would hope are obvious. But since the topic is "Japan's Child Abductions" I believe; and please correct me if I am wrong, but I was dead on target for the topic. Maybe a suggestion would be title the thread "The Hague Treaty" if you wanted to limit the discussion to this topic.

Just my two yen for the day...

a woman who "abducted" her children and returned to "her" country

Sounds as if they are possesions rather than human beings with wants and desires of their own. Maybe better to refer to them as their children but I digress. My discussion addresses the issue described and not individual anecdotal instances. You are incorrect in your attempt to steer the discussion off course. If you are intent upon discussing a situation which you are obviously personally invested in, there is nothing preventing you from doing so. Just start your own discussion instead of trying to hijack mine. A person in the U.S. who is justifiably fearful that their ex spouse poses a danger to them or their children may seek legal remedy. If that person decides to take their children and transport them outside of the country in defiance of court ordered custody arrangements, that person is committing a crime. Most other advanced industrialized nations recognize this and have signed the HAGUE TREATY. Japan has not.

No worries mate as I said before... Not trying to steer the discussion off course...just trying to contribute to the topic as per the subject stated, but since that obviously bites your gut I will henceforth leave it to you as it seems you only want to see your rant in the thread. Feel free to delete all the posts I typed out...wouldn't change the time of my day or the course of my life.

Again, No worries...

P.S. Sounds like you want to start another thread about how to correctly refer to one's offspring. As for me, I always say MY son or MY children. How could I ever be so insensitive to think that I was a part of their life and them a part of mine. I say MY wife and MY father & MY mum...weird huh!

Japan Children's Rights Network

http://www.crnjapan.net/The_Japan_C...lcome.html

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1...ights.html

TOKYO -- Steve Christie cannot see his son because his Japanese ex-wife has sole custody, a typical arrangement in Japan. He is one of about 70 American parents in that position, and the U.S. warned Tokyo on Tuesday that it must revise its family laws or risk hurting ties between the two longtime allies.

Laws that allow only one parent to have custody of children in cases of divorce - nearly always the mother - set Japan apart from most other developed countries. They also leave most fathers, including foreigners, unable to see their children until they are grown.

"This matter has raised very real concerns among senior and prominent Americans in Congress, on Capitol Hill and elsewhere," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters in Tokyo after meeting with affected American parents in Japan. He called their predicament "heartbreaking."