The bar graph below graphically shows the rapid increase in the number of parental child abduction cases to Japan since the year 2000. Depicting statistics provided by the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and France, the chart shows the growth in the number of cases tracked by these countries from the year 2000 through Nov. 30, 2009.

the rapid increase in the number of parental child abduction cases to Japan since the year 2000

All cases shown are the result of a Japanese spouse removing the child of an international marriage from a foreign country to Japan without the consent of the other parent, or unlawfully keeping a child in Japan in violation of custody or visitation arrangements. Many of the cases involve multiple children.

In these five countries alone, the number of cases of parental child abduction to Japan has almost doubled in the past two years and has more than quadrupled in the past four years.

The growth in the number of international parental child abduction cases to Japan has prompted a number of nations to call upon the government of Japan to accede to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, and to assist in resolving current abduction cases. Japan is the only G-7 nation that is not a signatory to the Hague Convention.

To date, no child has been returned to his/her country of habitual residence as a result of any action taken by the government of Japan.