A large part of divorce in Japan, or anywhere else, is the fair division of assets between the spouses. With bank accounts, retirement funds and other cash-based assets, this is a relatively easy task and the asset can usually be divided equally in half. However, for physical assets, such as a house or car, it […]
The Hague Convention on International Child Abduction normally applies to situations where a child is living with one or more parents before the international abduction. Therefore, the parent and the child will usually share the same home and country. However, this is not always the case. For children who are sent to boarding school, the […]
As discussed in previous posts, divorce mediation is mandatory in Japan for couples that petition the family court for divorce. These mediation sessions can be time consuming and sometimes frustrating for couples that are seeking to divorce as quickly as possible. Therefore, many couples are concerned with how mediation sessions are scheduled. At the end […]
Cases brought under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction are intended to be completed as quickly as possible in order to reduce the impact on the abducted child’s life. If the child can be returned to his or her home country as quickly as possible, the negative effects of the abduction can be mitigated. […]
Are there any extra procedures foreign nationals have to take when marrying in Japan? When a foreign national marries a Japanese national in Japan, there are some additional procedures that need to be followed according to Japanese law. First, the Japanese spouse should submit a certified copy of his/her family register and the foreign national […]
In general, there are two ways that child support payments are set in Japan. Either the parties can agree to any amount of child support that they want, or the family court can order a specific amount. In most cases, the family court encourages mutual agreement between parents of a child in terms of the […]
Japanese history until 1868 (the ‘opening of Japan’ by the arrival of Perry) always involved reign by a shogun. Shogun was the top military commander in the country, which used to be assigned by the Emperor until the military forces began to take over power of governance. The first shogun to take power over the […]
Cases heard under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction are held to a much stricter timetable than traditional litigation. While a normal family court case may drag on for months, Hague Convention cases should ideally be resolved within six weeks. While this expedited timetable provides the advantage of a quick resolution and the least […]
Navigating the minefield of divorce proceedings in Japan can be a tricky issue, only complicated further by the complexities involved in dissolving an international relationship.Our law firm has years of experience working on international divorce cases in Japan and understand the unique cultural and linguistic issues that complicate the delicate issues involved in these matters. […]
In the first 6 months of 2012, there were 2,016 reported cases of domestic violence in Japan. Of those cases, 94.3% of the victims were women. Domestic violence normally occurs between husband and wife, but it can also happen between couples that are not officially married. The law also applies to former spouses who have […]
Is it possible to have joint custody of children after a divorce in Japan? Unlike many other developed countries, there is no joint custody in Japan for children of divorced parents. Japanese courts used to subscribe to the unfortunate idea that children were better off not having contact with the non-custodial parent. Although this attitude […]
International Referral, the world’s largest exclusive network of advisory firms is delighted to introduce Nozomu Ohara of Ohara Law Office. Nozomu has joined IR as our exclusive Family Law member in Japan. Mr. Ohara’s long experience practicing law in Osaka has firmly established his firm, the Ohara Law Office, as a pillar of the Kansai […]