UPDATE (May 09, 2008): Japan to sign Hague Child Abduction Convention
Japan is known for having virtually no established family law and no tradition of dual custody. Once a couple gets divorced, there is no concept of visitation rights. Children are generally assigned to one parent, never to have contact with the other parent.
Without faltering, judges continuously uphold the cultural imperative that it is in the child’s best interest to stay with whomever she or he is with at that moment. The status quo is protected as police don’t intervene on family matters and judges have no authority over enforcement.
Japan is not a signatory to the Hague convention
READ THIS HEARTBREAKING STORY THAT I AM ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH
Parental Abduction is Child Abuse 