Remember You Are Not Alone
As per information provided submitted in Lord Goldsmiths report, there are an estimated 1,400 British children currently parentally abducted to or within Japan. There are an estimated 150,000 children every year in Japan that loose contact with one of their parents.
Updating ... Coming Soon
Our opinions on what to do if your child has been parentally abducted to or within Japan or you have a concern that your child is about to be parentally abducted by their parent to or within Japan.
Our opinions and advice is based on our interpratations and recomendations of the actions of a number of left behind parents who are experiencing losing their children to the child abduction issue in Japan.
Look After Your Mental Health
Of all the cases we have experienced, the one common theme affecting all parent victims of having their child abducted to or within Japan, or experiencing concern that their children are about to be taken, is the sheer amount of mental burden this takes out of you. There will no doubt be days where you experience dark thoughts, depression, a feeling of helplessness, anxiety, panic attacks, a feeling of helplessness for your children, uncontrolable sadness and tears, frustration that nothing is working, governments arent listening to the help you know your children need, the sheer length time it takes for anything in Japan to happen. Staying strong and positive in the fight for your children is one of the most important things you can do. Your firends and family will be extremely important to you during this time.
A number of parents we have spoken to have had a good experience with the mental health charity Mind. Finding the right people to listen is good help.
Im Concerned My Child May Be Abducted TO or WITHIN JAPAN
My Child Has Been Parentally Abducted TO JAPAN
My Child Has Been Parentally Abducted WITHIN JAPAN
Our Opinions On What To Do Based On Your Situation
Updating... we are working on this section to offer the best advice we can. Please visit back soon.
Understanding The Situation You & Your Children Are In
Unfortunately, nothing can fully prepare you for this situation. It is important to understand that there is no effective legal solution for you or your children once they have been abducted to or within Japan. The options available are routes through Hague Returns, Hage Visitations, a Mediation process in Japan, this can lead to a process with a Judge resided court decision ("Shinpan"), a High Court and a Court of Appeals. Regardless of whatever outcome you receive in these situations, due to a lack of family law in Japan and enforcement in Japan, the taking parent can simply say "no" to any mediation process and even directly disobey a court order from a Judge regarding visitation and access without any issue. No one will come and arrest the taking parent for not complying.
Going through these process in Japan is a very lengthy process. It is a huge drain on your energy, mental health and finances. A typical mediation process can take a year and at every stage the taking parent can just say "no" to all suggestions. You will feel that nothing is moving quick enough and that you are in a state of agonised limbo. It is important to perpare yourself mentally for this.
Often coupled with child abductions to or within Japan come allegations by the taking parent towards the left behind parent of domestic violence either by the left behind parent to the taking parent or by the left behind parent to the children. This is a stratergy advised by lawyers in Japan towards the taking parent. Be prepared for this event. Document everything. Make notes of interactions so that you have these at hand for if / when
1. Prepare yourself mentally for a long battle ahead.
2. Document everything with dates and times.
It is helpful to understand parental alienation and what your children will likely be going through as well as understanding the effects that this will have on you. Please visit the links in our Parental Alienation section under our Media page for an overview of the issue.
A book (available also in Audiobook format) to consider is:
Adult Children Of Parental Alienation Syndrome by Dr. Amy J.L Baker
please note we are not affiliated with Amazon we are just providing a link