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Abducted in Japan

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Abducted in Japan

Australian parents whose Japanese former spouses have abducted their children are demanding urgent action from both governments as years pass without any contact.

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Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong

‘Heartbreaking’: Penny Wong condemns abduction of Australian children in Japan

Parents warn Tokyo’s two-year delay in implementing new laws could trigger a “dash to the finish line” to abduct more children.

  • Eryk Bagshaw and Natalie Clancy
Scott McIntyre with his children in Japan.

Japan’s laws have changed. Now its society must too

Dozens of Australian parents and children have been caught in this outdated, cruel system. Now the Japanese government has finally relented.

  • Eryk Bagshaw
Australian mother Catherine Henderson was living in Tokyo when she says she came home from work to find that her husband had abducted their daughter and son.

Japan has finally changed its custody law. Australian parents fear it’s not enough

Australian parents of children abducted by their ex-partners in Japan say watershed reforms enabling joint custody don’t address the root cause of the issue.

  • Lisa Visentin and Eryk Bagshaw
Melbourne mother Catherine Henderson has been fighting to get access to her two children since 2019.

Japan’s lower house passes joint-custody bill bringing hope to Australian parents

Dozens of children, including at least 89 with Australian parents, have been abducted in Japan by one parent under a century-old law.

  • Eryk Bagshaw
Japanese mother Komae Suzuki’s children have also fallen victim to child abduction.

Australia leads the way against Japanese child abductions

The Australian government has launched an unprecedented intervention in Japan’s domestic politics.

  • Eryk Bagshaw
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Australian father Daniel White and his child Yui.

Seven more Australian kids abducted as Japan debates custody changes

The number of Australian children abducted in Japan has jumped by almost 10 per cent in the past year.

  • Eryk Bagshaw
Main image: Catherine Henderson (right), the mother of two abducted children, leaves a Tokyo court with her lawyer. Left: a sample of a letter sent to abducted children by the Australian embassy in Japan. Photo by Christopher Jue. Document supplied.

Japan ponders custody changes as Australia sends Hogwarts-style letters to abducted kids

Parents of abducted children say Japan’s proposed changes do not go far enough.

  • Eryk Bagshaw
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham. 

‘Extremely painful’: Canberra calls for action from Tokyo on Japan’s abducted children

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said they wanted children to be reunited with their Australian families.

  • Eryk Bagshaw
Australian mother Catherine Henderson and Japanese Upper House Councillor Mizuho Umemura in front of Parliament House.

Australia escalates diplomatic campaign against Japanese child abductions

In Japan, Australian parents live with the daily fear of their partner taking their children. The Australian government has stepped up its campaign for Japan to reform its family law system.

  • Eryk Bagshaw

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/abducted-in-japan-6fxg