In 2024, Japan announced it would allow parents to share custody over their children after divorce. For this 2022 documentary, Dateline investigated the country's controversial sole custody law that sometimes led to abductions of children and parents being cut off from seeing their kids.

00:00 Japan won't allow this Aussie mum to see her children
06:14 Why parental abductions are considered legal in Japan
07:53 The sole custody system, explained
13:51 A UK dad who won the battle for his kids
19:10 Mothers left to raise kids alone after divorce
22:21 Foreign parents fighting to reunite with their children

This episode first aired in 2022.

Subscribe to Dateline: https://bit.ly/3gkQHtr

Website http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline
Facebook   / datelinesbs  
Twitter   / datelinesbs  
Instagram   / datelinesbs  

Watch more Dateline, SBS 9.30pm Tuesday, and on SBS On Demand.

Dateline is an Australian awardwinning international documentary series with a current affairs backbone.
Every week we transport you to a different part of the world to share halfhour stories about family, social injustice, identity, tragedy, redemption and survival. We scour the globe to bring you special characters and a world of daring stories.

Network Terms & Conditions: https://www.sbs.com.au/terms
Privacy Policy: https://www.sbs.com.au/privacy
Feedback or complaints: https://www.sbs.com.au/complaints