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

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the Central Authority of Japan, conducts seminars and briefings for government officials and other professionals/experts of countries with interest in the Hague Convention with a view to facilitating their understanding of how the Convention has been implemented in Japan. The greater their understanding becomes, the more likely it is tht a parent wishing to make a visit to Japan will be able to get consent of the other parent or permission of the court, reducing the risk of trouble arising from the travel.

Japan provides information, especially to Asian countries, to help those that have not yet joined the Hague Convention better understand its provisions and consider becoming a contracting state. By increasing the number of countries to which the Convention applies, the use of dispute resolution procedure based on the international rules established by the Convention becomes more widely available in cases seeking the return of children taken from Japan to foreign countries, or contact with children living abroad.

• Seminar on Japan’s Implementation of the 1980 Hague Convention for Diplomatic Missions in Tokyo (March 5, 2026) NEW
  1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan held this seminar for embassies and delegations in Tokyo, as it recognizes the importance of informing relevant stakeholders abroad that Japan is steadily implementing the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Hague Convention). In view of the strong interest from overseas, the seminar also served as an opportunity to explain the latest amendment to the Civil Code and other related legislation of Japan in the field of family law, which will take effect on April 1, 2026.
  2. The seminar was attended by 31 officials from the diplomatic missions including the embassies of 16 contracting states of the Convention. During the seminar, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving as the Japanese Central Authority under the Convention, explained Japan’s implementation of the Convention, including its solid record on the return of children. Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice provided a briefing on the main points of the latest family law reform. Participating diplomats from various contracting states of the Convention asked many questions on Japan’s implementation of the Hague Convention and the Civil Code reform, demonstrating a high level of interest.
  3. It is expected that the seminar promoted greater understanding among embassies and delegations in Tokyo regarding the implementation of the 1980 Hague Convention and the Civil Code reform in Japan, and that this enhanced understanding will facilitate the work of relevant countries and regions on Hague Convention related matters.

• Dialogue with German Central Authority and Hague Network Judge (February 17, 2026) NEW

• Seminar for UK Legal Professionals on Japan's Implementation of The 1980 Hague Convention (October 28, 2025)
  1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan held the seminar entitled “Japan and the 1980 Hague Convention: The Reality of Implementation and Civil Code Amendments”, primarily for legal professionals in the United Kingdom, as it recognizes the importance of informing relevant stakeholders abroad that Japan is steadily implementing the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Hague Convention). In view of the strong interest from overseas, the seminar also served as an opportunity to explain the latest amendment to the Civil Code and other related legislation of Japan in the field of family law, due to take effect in April 2026.
  2. The seminar was attended by 43 legal professionals, academics, and other experts from the United Kingdom. In addition, a UK “Network Judge” — a member of the international network of judges established to facilitate the exchange of information regarding the Hague Convention — also participated in the discussions.
  3. During the seminar, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving as the Japanese Central Authority under the Convention, and from the Supreme Court of Japan, responsible for overseeing judicial proceedings on child return, explained Japan’s implementation of the Convention and relevant court procedures. Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice introduced the details of the latest family law reform. Following these presentations, a question-and-answer session was held, after which a judge of the High Court of England and Wales who serves as a Network Judge offered concluding remarks.

It is expected that the seminar promoted greater understanding among legal professionals in the United Kingdom regarding the implementation of the 1980 Hague Convention and the Civil Code reform in Japan, and that the enhanced understanding will help facilitate their work on Hague Convention related matters.

• Seminars for Japanese nationals living abroad NEW

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.
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.

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.

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.