The Hague Convention (Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction)　

November 5, 2025
Japanese

2. Previous Events (Before 2019)

Seminar on the 1980 Hague Convention for Diplomatic Missions in Tokyo -Unravelling International Family Disputes in Japan- (November 11, 2019, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Seminar on the 1980 Hague Convention for Diplomatic Missions in Tokyo -Unravelling International Family Disputes in Japan-
  1. The seminar was attended by 56 participants from 44 diplomatic missions in Tokyo, along with 29 Japanese lawyers and other professionals.
  2. Mr. NAKAYAMA Norihiro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, gave an opening speech on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. MATSUI Shinji, Director of the Hague Convention Division, gave a presentation on the implementation of the Convention in Japan. Lectures on Hague Convention cases and international family law were given by attorneys, Ms. ISHII Makiko and Ms. HIJIKATA Kyoko. Mr. Billy Cleary, a licensed family and marriage therapist, spoke about issues among international marriages.
  3. The subsequent panel discussion focused on various aspects of international family disputes, which enhanced the participants’ understanding and facilitated sharing of knowledge among them.

Symposium commemorating the fifth anniversary of Japan’s entry into the 1980 Hague Convention (June 10, 2019, at the Tokyo University)

Session 1: “Japan’s Five-year Experience in Implementing the 1980 Hague Convention and its New Challenges”
Session 2: “The Way Forward”
  1. Commemorating the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the 1980 Hague Convention for Japan, the symposium aimed to: a. educate more people on the Hague Convention and child abduction to prevent such incidents, b. provide updates on Japan's implementation of the Hague Convention over the past five years, and c. foster national discussions on domestic child-related procedures, including those under the Hague Convention.
  2. The symposium was attended by more than 190 people with different backgrounds, including judges, attorneys, academics and diplomats in Tokyo.
  3. The symposium began with opening remarks by Mr. TSUJI Kiyoto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and then featured two sessions: “Japan’s Five-year Experience in Implementing the 1980 Hague Convention and its New Challenges” and “The Way Forward”. Each session began with a keynote speech on the theme, followed by a panel discussion. In the first session, Mr. ZUSHI Shuji, Director of the Hague Convention Division delivered a keynote speech. In the second session, Prof. Marilyn Freeman of the University of Westminster in the UK made a keynote speech.

Seminar on the 1980 Hague Convention for Diplomatic Missions in Tokyo (March 15, 2019, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

  1. The seminar was held for the diplomatic corps in Tokyo. 107 people from 76 diplomatic missions in Tokyo participated in this seminar. In addition, 13 Japanese lawyers and others also participated.
  2. During the seminar, Mr. ZUSHI Shuji, Director of the Hague Convention Division, spoke on the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the implementation of the Convention, and Ms. MIZUUCHI Makiko and Ms. KITTAKA Masami, attorneys at law, gave presentations on the procedures for Hague Convention cases and other international family law cases in Japan.

Tokyo Seminar on the 1980 Hague Convention in Asia Pacific (December 7 and 8, 2017, at the Prince Park Tower Tokyo)

Opening remarks by Dr. Christophe BERNASCONI, Secretary General of Hague Conference on Private International Law
Group photography of all participants
  1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) co-hosted the seminar in Tokyo with a view to promoting the expansion of the 1980 Hague Convention in the Asia Pacific region. Dr. Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the HCCH gave an opening speech.
  2. The seminar was attended by judges and officials from Central Authorities in 14 countries and regions across the Asia Pacific.
  3. The seminar provided a platform for candid and active discussions. As a result, it is expected that the participants from non-contracting states have acquired useful information and knowledge related to domestic system necessary to accede to and implement the Convention.
  4. Mr. HORII Manabu, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, hosted a welcome reception on the first day of the seminar, where the participants actively interacted with each other and deepened their personal connections.

Seminar on the Hague Convention for Diplomatic Missions in Tokyo (February 15, 2017, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

  1. The seminar was organized for the diplomatic missions in Tokyo.
  2. The implementation status and the various support programs provided by the Japanese central authority were explained. Additionally, strategies to strengthen cooperation with foreign diplomatic missions in Japan were introduced.
    3. A lecture was also given by a lawyer with practical experience, focusing on the role of representatives in Hague Convention cases and international family law cases in general.

Asia Pacific Symposium on the 1980 Hague Convention (June 29 and 30, 2016, at Waseda University)

  1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and Waseda University co-hosted the symposium. The symposium aimed to: a. deepen the knowledge of stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Hague Convention and strengthen the implementation system, b. share the knowledge of contracting countries with non-contracting countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and c. provide opportunities for Japanese legal professionals and others to participate in international discussions on the Hague Convention.
  2. 64 experts from HCCH and 21 countries and regions, mainly from the Asia-Pacific region, participated in the symposium. Additionally, more than 120 people in the audience participated in the public session.

Symposium on the Hague Convention - in Considering the Modality of International Family Mediation - (January 16, 2013, at Mita Conference Hall)

  1. The symposium was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Japan Association of Arbitrators and supported by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
  2. Experienced panelists were invited from Japan and abroad, and the event attracted an audience of approximately 180 participants.
  3. The symposium was opened by the remarks of Mr. SUZUKI Shunichi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Following keynote speeches by Ms. Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE and Mr. SUZUKI Isomi, attorneys at law, a panel discussion was held on the theme of “Mediation in the Framework of the Hague Convention - Learning from Experiences of Germany and the United Kingdom-.“ Experts from the UK and Germany shared their experiences and insights on mediation in issues such as international child abduction, and an exchange of opinions was conducted regarding desirable international mediation mechanisms for Japan after the entry into force of the Hague Convention.
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