Children and youth

Japan Allows Joint Custody After Divorce for First Time

Is Japan's new joint custody law a landmark reform for children or a legal trap that endangers abuse victims?

Published APR 1

Japan Allows Joint Custody After Divorce for First Time

Story

Above: A family on the Marunouchi esplanade on Dec. 23, 2025. Image credit: David Mareuil/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Facts

Japan's revised Civil Code took effect Wednesday, allowing divorced parents to share custody of their children for the first time. The change marks the first major update to the country's parental rights framework since its creation in 1948.
BBC News
Nippon.Com
Divorcing couples can now choose joint or sole custody. If they cannot agree, a family court will decide based on the child's best interests; sole custody must be granted in cases involving abuse or domestic violence.
Independent
NHK
Japan had previously been the only G7 nation without a joint custody system. Under the previous framework, mothers were granted custody in 85% of cases, according to 2020 health ministry data.
guardian
Japan Times
Some critics argue courts may not be equipped to identify domestic violence risks under the new system. Around 100 protesters gathered in Tokyo on Sunday in opposition to the changes, chanting "No to a system that blocks our escape!"
The Straits Times
France24.com
The new law also introduces a statutory child support system, allowing the custodial parent to claim 20,000 yen ($125) per child per month from the other parent. The measure applies to divorces finalized on or after April 1.
Myanmar International TV
The Asahi Shimbun

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Japan's landmark custody reform, hailed as a generational shift, conceals a quietly devastating trap. Merging parental incomes strips survivors of vital scholarships and welfare, while the near-impossible burden of proving domestic abuse leaves victims legally bound to their abusers, even in cases of rape. This law risks weaponizing "reform" against the very families it claims to protect.

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Narrative B

Japan's revised Civil Code is a landmark shift that finally puts children — not parental convenience — at the center of divorce law. Family courts act as a safeguard, blocking joint custody in abuse cases and ensuring every child's voice is heard. After 77 years of one-parent-only custody, this reform opens a fairer path where both parents can stay meaningfully present in a child's life.

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