Generally only international cases get any mention.

But functionally, in Japan child abduction == custody. So if one member of a relationship involving children decides to end the relationship, they will typically abduct the child. Once the abduction has taken place, there is literally nothing that the other parent can do. If the non-abducting parent even attempts to see the child, they can be (and often are) arrested. The haven’t actually broken a law, but the police will arrest them for “harassment” of the abducting parent.

Eventually, the Japanese court (which only recognizes sole/unilateral custody) will rule in favor of the abductor. The Japanese courts use the logic that the child is now “settled” in the environment with the abductor and it is therefore “in the child’s best interest” to not have their environment changed.

There are legal articles the discuss the Japanese domestic issues:

English Translation of article by famous Japanese Law Professor — Discusses the number of domestic cases –>
http://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/1773.1/1030/20PacRimLPolyJ607.pdf?sequence=1

General Analysis of the broken family court system in Japan:
http://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/1773.1/1029/20PacRimLPolyJ589.pdf?sequence=1
http://www.hawaii.edu/aplpj/articles/APLPJ_08.2_jones.pdf

Plus the number of international cases get downplayed:
Child Abduction in Japan… The REAL Numbers – part 1. | Letters to Kai and Koh http://bit.ly/pteCAe

Recent NHK (English) segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fju4WDmpU9A

The reason that it doesn’t get so much coverage is that it gets labeled “custody” not abduction. But in Japan, as I’ve said, abduction is what determines custody. They who abduct, win.

Hi Yggbert

There are an estimated 250,000+ cases of child abduction in Japan annually. It is quite the undiscussed epidemic — with zero legal recourse via the Japanese legal system. I unfortunately know from firsthand experience.

I’m not lamenting, I’m suggesting. There used to be several “bounty options”, and the suggestion that it will return to that style. I’m merely trying to:

A) build awareness of this issue — as that is the only way that it will ever be changed.
B) suggest the cause as a potential option in the future.