Tamayo Omura (Japanese divorce lawyer)

The cultural stigma surrounding divorce in Japan has led to the development of a sole custody system, which has exacerbated the issue of parental child abduction. This is a matter of concern for many, including Tamayo Omura, a Japanese divorce lawyer who has seen firsthand the negative effects of this system on both parents and children.

“Japan fails to prevent the abduction of children and implementation of appropriate visitation rights to the left-behind parent,” said Tamayo.

In Japan, divorce is still considered taboo and is often seen as a failure of the marriage and the individuals involved. This stigma has led to the development of a sole custody system, where only one parent is granted legal custody of the child following a divorce.

“Japan's inability to change causes the issue to worsen because avoiding conflict is deeply rooted in Japan’s family culture and customs, to prevent the children from exposure to conflict Japanese courts will allow full custody to one parent and no interaction with the other parent,” said Omura.

This sole custody system has led to an increase in parental child abduction in Japan. Tamayo Omura, as a divorce lawyer, has seen the negative effects of the sole custody system on both parents and children. She believes that a more balanced approach is needed, one that grants both parents equal access to and custody of their child following a divorce. This would not only be in the best interests of the child, but it would also help to reduce the instances of parental child abduction.

“Japan needs to look over these divorce custody cases, especially from the perspective of the children involved,” added Omura.

It is important for the government and society as a whole to address the cultural stigma surrounding divorce in Japan and to implement a more balanced approach to custody in order to protect the rights of both parents and children. Tamayo Omura and others who are concerned about this issue will continue to advocate for change and work towards a better future for all involved.