Japan Allows Joint Custody After Divorce for First Time
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.
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.