The Justice Ministry has started to beef up efforts to disseminate information on the nation's divorce system in English in response to a trend of increasing divorces among foreigners married to Japanese and living in Japan.
The ministry launched a website in English last month to inform foreigners of the procedures involved in a divorce. Using a question-and-answer format, such information as the paperwork needed regarding child support payments or division of assets can be obtained.
In addition, the ministry began in April to publish in English the minutes of discussions on reviewing the divorce system in the Civil Code and other laws by the Legislative Council, an advisory body to the justice minister.
Under the Civil Code, one parent gains sole custody of a child after a divorce. The parent with custody has the right to oversee the child's daily needs and education, while the other parent has almost no say in the raising of the child.
With many countries allowing for joint custody, Japan's divorce system has come under criticism. The justice ministry thus decided that disseminating the process of discussions in the Legislative Council is necessary.
"It is a topic of great interest both in Japan and abroad, and we'll continue to look at ways to disseminate information," said an official for the Civil Affairs Bureau of the Justice Ministry.
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