In Japan, which bans twin custody, a desk tennis star refuses handy again her son to her ex

Japan’s as soon as beloved desk tennis star Ai Fukuhara is on the heart of a kid custody feud following the breakup of her marriage to a Taiwanese participant who was additionally a star within the sport in his nation.

On Thursday, her former husband Chiang Hung-chieh and his attorneys demanded Fukuhara return their youthful baby she took to Japan final 12 months and has since refused to ship again in alleged breach of a joint custody settlement.

Unlike many different international locations, Japan doesn’t enable twin custody of youngsters for his or her divorced mother and father. Only one dad or mum can take the youngsters, although the opposite dad or mum can acquire visitation rights. In some instances, the dad or mum with custody blocks contact with the opposite one.

There have been some high-profile instances of custody disputes introduced up by international husbands divorced from Japanese girls accusing them of kid abduction.

The couple have been legally divorced beneath Taiwanese regulation in July 2021 after 5 years of marriage. They agreed to share custody of their two kids – a daughter and a son. Both had been residing with Chiang till final summer time, when Fukuhara returned to Japan with the youthful baby.

The plan was for the boy to spend the summer time with Fukuhara in Japan, however she has since minimize off contact together with her ex-husband, refusing to deliver the son again to Taiwan, Chiang’s attorneys informed a joint information convention in Tokyo.

PHOTOS: In Japan, which bans twin custody, a desk tennis star refuses handy again her son to her ex

Chiang urged Fukuhara to comply with the Japanese household court docket ruling and “bring the younger child back to me as soon as possible.”

In Japan, the place child-rearing and homemaking are nonetheless seen as girls’s duties, moms are nonetheless thought of to be primarily accountable for kids. Women whose marriages break down usually find yourself as single moms.

Joint custody has change into a divisive concern in Japan due to considerations that it will be harder to guard victims of home violence.

Chiang’s Japanese lawyer, Aiko Ohbuchi, mentioned Chiang received a court docket resolution on July 20 ordering Fukuhara to return the kid to him in Taiwan instantly.

The subsequent day, Chiang’s facet requested the court docket to implement the order. However, the Taiwanese participant mentioned he hoped Fukuhara would hand over their son, out of fear that such a course of might harm the boy’s emotions.

Ohbuchi mentioned Fukuhara and the son’s whereabouts are unknown and Chiang is nervous that he might by no means get to see their son once more. However, the lawyer mentioned that Chiang wouldn’t quit and his facet might ultimately have to think about submitting a prison criticism accusing Fukuhara of kid abduction if she continues to disregard the court docket orders.