Abducted in Japan
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Japan
‘Extremely painful’: Canberra calls for action from Tokyo on Japan’s abducted children
Foreign Minister Penny Wong and opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said they wanted children to be reunited with their Australian families.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Japan
Australia escalates diplomatic campaign against Japanese child abductions
In Japan, Australian parents live with the daily fear of their partner taking their children. The Australian government has stepped up its campaign for Japan to reform its family law system.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Documents expose deep divisions between Canberra and Tokyo on abducted children
Documents released under freedom of information laws highlight tensions on one of the most sensitive diplomatic disputes between the two nations.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
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Japan
‘It’s damaging children’: Japan’s abducted kids call for help at the G7
Victims say the pain the Japanese system causes children “is beyond the description” as they call on G7 leaders to escalate pressure on Tokyo.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
Exclusive
Japan
Australia urges Japan to reform sole custody law
Canberra has encouraged Tokyo to introduce shared parenting after The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes reported that at least 82 Australian children had been abducted by their Japanese parent since 2004.
- by Eryk Bagshaw and Natalie Clancy
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Japan
Japanese MPs condemn child abductions, call on Australia to pressure Tokyo
Prominent Japanese politicians have labelled the country’s sole custody system an embarrassment and appealed to Australia to raise the issue publicly in Japan.
- by Eryk Bagshaw and Natalie Clancy
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Sarah had 24 hours to abduct her own children or never see them again
The mother is the only Australian parent known to have won the child abduction race under Japan’s sole custody system, while a Canadian father sailed 1000 kilometres to see his kids during pandemic lockdowns.
- by Eryk Bagshaw and Natalie Clancy
Eighty-two Australian children have been abducted in Japan
Australian parents who haven’t seen their children in years are demanding action from Canberra and Tokyo.
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Eighty-two Australian children have been abducted in Japan – and it’s legal
Australian parents whose Japanese former spouses have abducted their children are demanding urgent action from both governments as years pass without any contact.
- by Eryk Bagshaw and Natalie Clancy
Editorial
Japan
Japanese must bend on abducted children of foreign nationals
While the international community overwhelmingly recognises the right of a child to maintain a relationship with both parents, this is not the case in Japan.
- The Herald's View