When going through a divorce at the family court in Japan, it is important to put effort into the obvious things, such as clearly articulating your position and telling the truth. However, participants in divorce mediation also frequently have more basic concerns as well, such as whether there is a dress code for attending mediation at the family court.
In generally, there is no dress code for spouses involved in divorce mediation at the family court in Japan. The family court and divorce mediation are designed to be accessible to everyone and nobody will be turned away for not wearing formal clothing.
This is especially important because many people will not have time to change into formal attire before the mediation session. Japanese family courts tend to schedule mediation in the morning or early afternoon so many participants need to take time off from work or schedule their working hours in order to allow them to leave in time to attend a mediation session. This can often lead to situations where spouses come directly from work or other obligations without time to change.
Furthermore, family courts in Japan have differing rules regarding when air condition and heaters may be used, which can result in very hot or cold conditions even inside the mediation room. Therefore, it’s important to dress in a way that is appropriate for the season so you won’t be too uncomfortable during the mediation session.
However, for those spouses who are able to change into a suit or more formal clothing before a mediation session, it is recommended to do so. It is always best to take every opportunity to provide the mediators with a favorable impression and wearing formal clothing can be one easy way to accomplish this.