Publication Announcement: Chambers Global Practice Guide 2026 – Family Law (Japan)
Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office is pleased to announce that Kenji Yano, Partner of Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office, has contributed both the
- Law & Practice chapter (systematic analysis of the current Japanese legal framework), and
- Trends & Developments chapter (analysis of the 2026 family law reform)
for the Chambers Global Practice Guide 2026 – Family Law (Japan).
👉 View the Chambers publication here:
The 2026 Reform of Japanese Family Law
Enacted in May 2024 and scheduled to enter into force on 1 April 2026, this reform is widely regarded as the most significant reform of Japanese family law since the post-war Civil Code came into force in 1948.
The reform does not merely introduce optional joint parental authority after divorce.
Rather, it represents a comprehensive restructuring of the legal framework governing children in Japan.
The chapter provides a systematic analysis of the following areas:
1. Restructuring of Parental Authority and Custody
- Introduction of optional joint parental authority after divorce
- Clarification of methods of exercising parental authority (sole and joint exercise)
- Creation of new procedural mechanisms to resolve parental disagreements
- Designation of a parent authorised to exercise parental authority with respect to specific matters
- Allocation of custody responsibilities
The reform marks a transition from a model focused primarily on the designation of a single parent to a framework aimed at the institutional governance and coordination of a child’s life following marital breakdown.
2. Strengthening of the Child Support System
- Establishment of statutory child support
- Introduction of a statutory lien securing child support claims
- Implementation of financial disclosure orders
Child support is no longer treated solely as a matter of private negotiation between parents; it is increasingly embedded within a system designed to ensure enforceability and institutional support.
3. Reform of the Parent–Child Contact Framework
- Codification of trial contact procedures
- Introduction of statutory provisions governing contact between children and grandparents and other relatives
Parent–child contact has been reorganised from a largely principled entitlement into a more structured and practice-oriented legal framework.
4. Amendments Concerning Property Division and Related Matters
- Extension of the limitation period for property division (from two years to five years)
- Introduction of financial disclosure order mechanisms
The reform enhances both effectiveness and fairness in post-divorce financial settlement.
Implications for International Cases
The introduction of joint parental authority has potential implications for the operation of the Hague Child Abduction Convention in practice.
In particular, post-divorce joint parental authority may significantly affect international custody, relocation, and enforcement disputes involving Japan.
It is hoped that this contribution will serve as a practical and analytical resource for clients and practitioners engaged in cross-border family law matters involving Japan.
Chambers and Partners is an internationally renowned legal research and publishing organisation, widely regarded as an authoritative source in the global evaluation of law firms and lawyers.
Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office
