International Parental Child Abduction and Japan’s Response to the Internationalisation of the Family

Japan has long faced criticism for how it manages international parental child abduction cases. This thesis examined how the Japanese legal system has engaged with international legal frameworks to manage international parental child abduction and how this integrated legal system plays out in reality for Japanese people and others who come under its operation. Through case studies of abduction, the thesis examined concepts for a better legal process and revealed the broader social and philosophical shifts that both shape the legal landscape and determine how effectively Japan will be able to manage international custody issues in the future.