In Japan, divorce splits parents from children. Could a law change end sole custody?
Key takeaways
- He longs for the ordinary moments he once shared with his children: taking them to the park, watching them wake up, and being part of their lives.
- Deng, not his real name, is originally from Hong Kong and has lived in Japan for the past 22 years.
- His marriage fell apart, and his children were taken away by his ex-partner without warning.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Kurumi Mori Tokyo correspondent Jiro Akiba/BBCIn Japan, until now only one parent held legal rights over the children after separation On a weekday afternoon in Japan, John Deng stands near the playground, listening to other children play and laugh.
His own son and daughter are nowhere in sight. He longs for the ordinary moments he once shared with his children: taking them to the park, watching them wake up, and being part of their lives.
Deng, not his real name, is originally from Hong Kong and has lived in Japan for the past 22 years. It's where he built his life, met his former partner, and became a father to two children, an eight-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter.