On Wednesday the House applied pressure on Japan strongly urging Tokyo to return immediately half-Japanese children that lawmakers say have been kidnapped from their American parents. The House voted unanimously a resolution condemning the abduction and retention” of children held in Japan in violation of their human rights and United States and international law. It passed 416-1, and calls for Japan to allow Americans to visit their children and for the Japanese government to join a 1980 international convention on child abduction that would allow for the quick return of the children to America.
The resolution shows that the US is watching and demanding action.
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., said, “Americans are fed up with our friend and ally Japan and their pattern of noncooperation.” Netscape
Japan released a statement saying they are sympathetic to the plight of children caught in custody battles between Japanese and American citizens and “is continuing to make sincere efforts to deal with this issue from the standpoint that the welfare of the child should be of the utmost importance.” The stance between the two countries has been a source of friction for some time. U.S. lawmakers say at least 121 American children currently are being held in Japan.
In Japan, by law, only one parent can have custody of the children in case of divorce. Activists say the court system in Japan is tilted against fathers and foreigners. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans on discussing the topic come her next meeting in Japan.
Christopher Savoie, a father who was arrested last year after going to Japan in a failed attempt to reclaim his two children who were taken from Franklin, Tenn., by his Japanese ex-wife, joined lawmakers and other fathers at a news conference before the House vote.
