Japan Approves Joint Custody After Divorce

TOKYO, May 17 (News On Japan) - A revised Civil Code introducing 'joint custody' for children after divorce has been passed by the Diet. This marks the first time in 77 years that Japan has reviewed the approach to post-divorce custody.

In the revised Civil Code, if custody is not decided through post-divorce negotiations, the court will determine whether custody should be 'sole' or 'joint.'

During the deliberation of the bill, concerns were raised about cases where divorces were not amicable. As a result, supplementary provisions were added to ensure measures to confirm the 'true intentions' of both parents when selecting custody.

The bill was passed in a vote by the House of Councillors, with the majority support from the ruling party and some opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party.

The revised Civil Code is expected to come into effect by 2026.

Source: TBS

Japanese Woman Witnesses Crisis in Gaza

A Japanese woman working with Doctors Without Borders has delivered a harrowing account from Gaza, where severe food shortages and relentless Israeli airstrikes have pushed local hospitals and residents to the brink of collapse.

Hakodate Fishermen Brace for Another Poor Squid Season

The squid fishing season officially opened on June 1st in Hakodate, where 11 boats set out from the port despite recent years of severely depleted catches and early reports from Aomori, which began fishing in May, already indicating another poor haul.

Japan’s Healthcare in Crisis, Doctors Overworked as Research Time Dwindles

Amid mounting financial strain and work reform policies, Japan’s university hospitals are struggling to maintain the quality of their medical research, threatening the future of healthcare in the country. A recent survey of approximately 3,000 physicians working in university hospitals revealed that 60% spend less than five hours a week on research, with 22% reporting zero research time. The main reason: they are simply too busy with clinical duties to conduct research.

Former Princess Mako Komuro Has First Child in U.S.

Mako Komuro, the eldest daughter of the Akishino family and now living in the United States, has given birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency announced on May 30th. The agency stated that the birth was disclosed during a press conference after some media reports surfaced, despite their intention to allow Komuro to live in a quiet environment following her departure from the Imperial family.

Akie Abe Moved to Tears During Kremlin Visit with Putin

Akie Abe, widow of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, visited the Kremlin on May 29th and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Akie was seen tearfully listening to Putin’s words, reflecting the emotional nature of their exchange. Following the conversation, she was invited to ride in Putin’s official limousine to the Bolshoi Theatre, where the two attended a ballet performance together.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Japan's Diet to Debate Optional Surnames for First Time in 28 Years

Opposition parties submitted three bills to the Diet on May 30th seeking to introduce a system allowing married couples to retain separate surnames—a topic that returned to parliamentary deliberation for the first time in 28 years.

Akie Abe Moved to Tears During Kremlin Visit with Putin

Montenegrin Prime Minister Delivers Opening Remarks in Japanese in Landmark Summit

Prime Minister Ishiba met with Montenegrin Prime Minister Spajic in Tokyo on May 28th during the latter’s official visit to Japan, marking what both leaders described as a historic occasion.

Koizumi Announces Suspension of Discretionary Contracts for Rice Reserves

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has temporarily halted new applications for discretionary contracts to purchase rice from government reserves, Agriculture Minister Koizumi announced on May 27th. The decision comes after applications for 2022-harvest rice reached the quota limit of 200,000 tons.

Nineteen Firms Apply for 90,000 Tons of Reserve Rice Under Direct Contracts

Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi announced that 19 companies have applied to purchase a total of 90,824 tons of government reserve rice under a discretionary contract framework. He added that distribution could begin as early as May 29th, with sales expected to start in stores during the first week of June.

Cheaper Rice Rollout Sparks Concerns Over Access and Equity

As rice prices hit historic highs, the government is moving to counter rising costs by offering reserve rice to major retailers at a target price of around 2,000 yen for 5 kilograms, Agriculture Minister Koizumi announced on May 26th.

Reserve Rice to Hit Stores in Early June at 2,000 Yen / 5kg

The Japanese government will begin selling its stockpile of rice directly to major retailers, aiming to put 5-kilogram bags on supermarket shelves for around 2,000 yen (before tax) as early as early June, Agriculture Minister Koizumi announced on Monday.

Revised Family Registry Law Takes Effect

A revised Family Registry Act requiring kana (phonetic reading) to be included alongside names in the official family registry came into effect on May 26th. Postcards listing the planned kana readings will now be sent by municipalities to all residents across Japan.

< 2 3 4 5 >