News
 International
   Global Views
   Asia-Pacific
   America
   Europe
   Middle East & Africa
 National
 Embassy News
 Arts & Living
 Business
 Travel & Hotel
 Medical Tourism New
 Taekwondo
 Media
 Letters to Editor
 Photo Gallery
 News Media Link
 TV Schedule Link
 News English
 Life
 Hospitals & Clinics
 Flea Market
 Moving & Packaging
 Religious Service
 Korean Classes
 Korean Weather
 Housing
 Real Estate
 Home Stay
 Room Mate
 Job
 English Teaching
 Translation/Writing
 Job Offered/Wanted
 Business
 Hotel Lounge
 Foreign Exchanges
 Korean Stock
 Business Center
 PR & Ads
 Entertainment
 Arts & Performances
 Restaurants & Bars
 Tour & Travel
 Shopping Guide
 Community
 Foreign Missions
 Community Groups
 PenPal/Friendship
 Volunteers
 Foreign Workers
 Useful Services
 ST Banner Exchange
  Asia-Pacific
Letters from Tokyo
Japan Ignores Child Abduction because of Racism
By Lee Jay Walker
Tokyo Correspondent
Japan ignores child abduction because of racism

The government of Japan continues to allow international child abduction because it is clear that many national governments have asked Japan to change the legal system. However, the government of Japan just ignores the issue or brushes it under the carpet. Yet one aspect of Japanese law is clear, and this is the racial nature of the legal system and how Japanization is the ¡°heart¡± of this policy. Therefore, why isn¡¯t Japan deemed to be a pariah in the international community?

Firstly, I want to highlight the case of Shane Clarke, a British national, because The Guardian newspaper highlighted his case on Sept. 15, 2008. Before focusing on this case it is important to mention that The Guardian newspaper is very liberal, therefore, you always get a balanced point of view.

The article, written by Justin McCurry, highlights the problem of child abduction in Japan and the ineffectiveness of the legal system in this nation. Sadly, but only all too frequently, Shane Clarke would soon understand that the legal system in Japan is not based on fairness, equality, justice, or equal rights; on the contrary, he would see the true nature of Japanese family law which is based on racism and inactivity.

Shane Clarke states about his Japanese wife that ¡°From the moment I met her at Narita airport I knew something was wrong.¡± He continued by stating that ¡°The whole thing had been orchestrated.¡±

Yet I would add further, that the whole thing being orchestrated literally means ¡°the whole thing being orchestrated.¡± I am talking about the government, the judicial system, the police, and all major institutions being ¡°orchestrated¡± in order to preserve the supremacy of Japanese nationals over non-Japanese nationals.

Justin McCurry states the following ¡°Japan is the only G7 nation not to have signed the 1980 Hague convention on civil aspects of child abduction, which requires parents accused of abducting their children to return them to their country of habitual residence. He is one of an estimated 10,000 parents, divorced or separated from their Japanese spouses, who have been denied access to their children. Since the Hague treaty came into effect, not a single ruling in Japan has gone in favour of the foreign parent.

Yes, read again, ¡°not a single ruling in Japan has gone in favour of the foreign parent.¡± Therefore, no right-minded individual with these statistics can claim that the justice system is based on equality in Japan. The only other possible conclusion can be racism and we are talking about institutional and systematic racism. Also, we are talking about collusions and ¡°done deals¡± between different institutions in the name of ¡°Japanization.¡±

Surely this issue must be raised at the United Nations? Yet sadly, many national governments like the British are hypocrites because the government of the United Kingdom understands full well that child abduction in Japan is a major reality. Therefore, how can the British government support Japan over the abduction issue in North Korea, yet remain quiet over the abduction of British children of mixed blood in Japan?

However, the European Union, America, and Canada, are all urging Japan to sign the Hague Convention which relates to children. Of course the British government is too meek and mainly interested in economic issues, therefore, Japan makes the most of its economic clout and the indifference of many national governments.

Turning back to the case of Shane Clarke, he would soon understand that the legal system of Japan is not based on equality but on racism. Also, he would soon find out that the British government is compliant and helping Japan to violate human rights by remaining silent and indifferent.

Shane Clarke states ¡°We are talking about two British citizens, and no one will help me. The message our government is sending out to foreign nationals is that it¡¯s perfectly all right for them to commit a crime on British soil, and as long as they leave the country quickly enough, they¡¯ll get away scot-free.¡±

Justin McCurry also notes ¡°he can expect little sympathy from Japanese courts, which do not recognize parental child abduction as a crime and habitually rule in favour of the custodial – Japanese – parent.¡± Not surprisingly, Japan is being rebuked for being ¡°a haven for child abductors¡± by campaigners.

Therefore, Japan should be taken to the United Nations and a binding resolution should be passed on this nation. After all, 10,000 cases involving a non-Japanese national and a Japanese national in Japan but despite this high number, not one single case where a foreign national won equality or justice? Therefore, racism and a system which loathes the ¡°outsider¡± is clearly a reality in modern Japan.

The talking must stop because action is now needed and it is vital that this issue is raised until Japan is shamed into acting like a normal developed nation. Clearly Japan will only act if all major powers raise this issue and ordinary citizens must do more to put pressure on national leaders.

Japan is an international pariah when it comes to international child abduction and clearly Japan wants to become a permanent member of the United Nations. Therefore, it is important to focus on Japan¡¯s ¡°weak spot¡± and raise this issue with the United Nations and to make sure that all national governments know about this important issue.

LEE JAY WALKER



Related Articles
    Myanmar, Bangladesh Sign an Accord but ...
    Japan Hopes to Boost Ties with Myanmar
    Drugs Crisis in Iran Emanating from Afghanistan
    Mexico Resembles a Civil War: Three Murders ...
    "Door Remains Open," French President Says
    President Trump and Ousted FBI Chief Comey: ...
    Moon Jae-in to Become President of South ...
    America, China, Russia Should Work Together on ...
    The Fading Spirit of Kano Chikanobu Awakened ...
    Japanese Poetry of Kakinomoto no Hitomaro: ...
    Trump Offers China Economic Inducements If ...
    Syria & Khan al-Assal Massacre: Western ...
    United States Botanic Garden and Stunning Art ...
    Syria: FSA and Al-Qaeda in Power Struggle
    Syria and the Sponsored Revolution Costing ...
    South Korean Fashion and Kpopsicle: Summer ...
    Syria and Shia Massacred by al-Nusra: Gulf and ...
    Turkey & Discontent towards Premier Erdogan: ...
    UK, MI5 and Syria: Hypocrites, Somalia and ...
    Christian Clergy in Syria Held Hostage by the ...
    China and Japan Play Cat and Mouse over ...
    Cameroon and Nigeria: French Hostages Released ...
    Alyse Radenovic, Bratunac and Srebrenica: Art ...
    Japanese Art and Bunjinga: Tani Buncho, Power ...
    Italian Fashion and Simonetta Sala: Adorable ...
    France, UK Want to Send Military Arms Directly ...
    Political Crisis in Tunisia after Belaid ...
    World of Art: Yuzo Saeki and Alyse Radenovic ...
    Nuclear Test by North Korea and Need for a ...
    Israel Violates the Sovereignty of Syria
    Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood: President Mursi ...
    Japan Art: Erotic Art, Sexuality and ...
    Algeria Hostage Crisis: Japan Needs to ...
    Syria and Bashar al-Assad Addresses Powerful ...
    US, France, UK Support Islamism
    LDP Wins Election in Japan
    FSA Islamists in Syria threaten to kill ...
    Syria Needs Support to Defend Itself against ...
    Egypt, Jordan and Turkey: Political Crisis and ...
    Japanese Art, Culture and the Yamabushi: ...
    Israel, Gaza and Doha: The Sham of the Western ...
    Syria & New Charade: Gulf Nations Should ...
    Tokyo Fashion and the Exquisite Boutique ...
    Sudan, South Sudan Crisis & Int'l Community
    Claude Monet Was Smitten by Japanese Art: ...
    Japan Tourism and Fukushima: Abukuma Cave, ...
    Japanese Art and Saburosuke Okada: the Power ...
    Japanese Art and Tosa School: Tosa Mitsunobu ...
    Syria and Terrorist Threat from Opposition: ...
    Russian Federation Lambasts Anti-Syria ...
    Syria: Outsiders Support Terrorism and US & ...
    Japanese Art and Bunjinga (Nanga): the ...
    Ontoshiki Is a Stunning Photographer in Tokyo: ...
    Japanese Art and Van Gogh: Japonisme, Ukiyo-e ...
    Associated Press Opens a Bureau in Pyongyang
    Fashion in South Korea: Kpopsicle & the trends ...
    Japanese Buddhist Art at the National Museum ...
    Japanese tourism: Jigokudani Monkey Park in ...
    South Korean Fashion: Kpopsicle, International ...
    BoA Releases Stunning New Song "Milestone"
    K-Pop and New Mini-Album Called "Snow Pink" by ...
    La Carmina and Tokyo: Alternative Fashion, ...
    K-Pop and T-ara in Japan: Stylish, Energetic ...
    Kanstyle Magazine to Open Up South Korean ...
    Tokyo Fashion: Jiyugoaka Is Trendy and a Great ...
    Korean Pop Music Continues to Hit Heights in ...
    Yoshihiko Noda to Become New Prime Minister of ...
    Japan and the Political Farce: The Race Is On ...
    Tokyo tourism: Mount Takao-san Is a Stunning ...
    Ryo Ishikawa: Near to Making a Breakthrough at ...
    Lindsay Ann Hawker: Verdict Is Life in Prison ...
    Hokusai & Hakone: Ukiyo-e & Stunning Scenery
    Lindsay Ann Hawker: Does the Joji Obara/ Kim ...
    Burma (Myanmar): Free Burma Rangers update
    Japan & Child Abduction: Interview with Sonia ...
    Novak Djokovic Beats Rafael Nadal to Claim ...
    Kawanabe Kyosai: the Underworld and the ...
    Tatsuya Ichihashi Admits to Killing Lindsay ...
    Utagawa Kuniyoshi: Tranquil Art and Natural ...
    Southern Thailand and Islamization
    Islamic Terrorism: Afghanistan to Bosnia and ...
    IslamicJihad within the Territory of Russia
    Muslims Burn a Christian Alive in Pakistan
    Radical Islam and Terrorism in the Balkans
    Pakistan and Ongoing Christian Persecution
    Turkey Is Trying to Dictate to Armenia
    Bosnia and Clinton's Radical Islamists
    Iraq's Jewish Identity Faces Extinction
    Muslims Slaughter Christians in Egypt
    Somalia and the Reality of Radical Islam
    Racist Ishihara Fails to Get 2016 Olympic Games
    Daily Life in Japan and Isolation
    USA and the Internal Islamic Threat
    Indonesia and Ba¡¯asyir, the Preacher of Hate
    Nigeria and Christian Martyrs
    Indonesia and Islamic Terrorism
    Aceh in Indonesia Passes Stoning to Death Law
    2016 Olympic Bid and Racist Governor of Tokyo
    Randy Collins and Child Abduction in Japan
    Islamic Militants Target Buddhists in Thailand
    Bangladesh Destroys Hinduism, Buddhism
    Child Abduction in Japan: Shane Clarke Case
    Islamic Ramadan Begins, Blood Keeps Flowing
    Kosovo and Ongoing De-Christianization
    USA Appeases Islam under President Obama
    Somalia, UK, and Killing of Christians
    Buddhists Fear to Walk in Southern Thailand
    Pakistan Must Abolish the Blasphemy Law
    Pakistan and Burning Alive of Christians
    Nigeria Challenged by Radical Islamists
    Somalia and Christian Martyrs Killed by Muslims
    KOSOVO & Systematic Persecution by KLA
    Japan Allows International Child Abduction
    Ethiopia Continues to Develop under EPRDF
    Saudi Arabia and Why Child Marriage Is Allowed
    China Faces a Fresh Bout of Ethnic Hatred
    Islam and the Myths of Unity and Peace
    IRAN Enters a Political Minefield alongside ...
    Islam Needs to Be Challenged by True Democracy
    North Korea's Point of View
    Myanmar: Ethnic Minorities & Aung San Suu Kyi
    Colombia and Extrajudicial Killings Scandal
    IRAQ and the Destruction of the Mandaean ...
    Non-Arabs of the Middle East and Persecution
    USA Is Worried about Events in Pakistan
    USA, CIA Created Sunni Islamic Terrorism
    Pakistan Faces Internal Threat
    N. Korea Pulls Out of 6-Party Talks because of ...
    Japan under Ishihara Must Not Be Given the ...
    USA Is Looking at Plan Colombia in Order to ...
    MYANMAR – Karen Christians Face Joint ...
    Bolivia under Morales and the Indigenous Issue
    Mexico -- Drug Cartels and the American Market
    Saudi Arabia Allowing 8 Year Old Girls to ...
    USA -- Bail Outs Must Be Questioned after AIG ...
    Ethiopia under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
    Europe Is Facing a Real Economic and Social ...
    USA is Deeply Concerned about Pakistan and ...
    USA -- Obama Is in Free Fall at the Moment
    Japan Must Not Be Rewarded the 2016 Olympics ...
    China, Russia Rebuke America at World Economic ...
    PAKISTAN -- Radical Sunni Islamists Are Now ...
    EU Is Alarmed by Gas Dispute between Russia ...
    USA -- Obama Faces Major Internal and External ...
    Zimbabwe Now Faces Cholera Epidemic alongside ...
    Pakistan and the Persecution of Ahmadiyya ...
    USA -- President Bush Is Trying to Contain ...
    India Becomes Yet Another Major Victim of ...
    Japan Needs to Create an Independent Foreign ...
    Mongolia and The Importance of This Nation to ...
    Islamic Radicals Support Stoning Women, ...
    Inflation Threatens to Engulf Vietnam and The ...
    Turkey and The Secular Card, Myth or Reality?
    Ethiopian Ambassador to Japan and Third ...
    SOUTH AFRICA, Race Attacks and Underlying ...
    EGYPT -- Coptic Christians Are Still ...
    Ethiopia Needs International Support to ...
    Armenia and Azerbaijan Are Still in Dispute ...
    Kosovo and the Crisis of Ignoring ...
    The UN Is Undemocratic and Manipulated, So ...
    America Is Seeking to Contain the Russian ...
    Iran Is a Stabilizing Power in Afghanistan and ...
    Venezuela -- Chavez the Enigma, a Great or ...
    Lebanon Needs to Dismantle the Armed Forces of ...
    Iraq and Destruction of Christianity since ...
    Bolivia Is Facing Meltdown So Can a Solution ...
    Macedonia Could Become the Next Balkan ...
    Russia Faces Many Security Concerns
    State Intervention Versus Globalization and ...
    Ethiopia and Its War against Radical Islam and ...
    PM Fukuda of Japan Resigns and This Nation Is ...
    Japan Needs Stability in a Time of Urgency
    Russia Responds to America's Intimidation
    Russian Federation & Next Stage of Development ...
    Market Confidence Remains Extremely Mixed
    Why China Needs to Modernize Her Armed Forces
    MEXICO -- President Calderon Is in a Flux ...
    Iran and America, Friends or Foe
    Georgia Took a Huge Gamble in South Ossetia ...
    Japan and the Suicide Problem
    Zimbabwe: Can Morgan Tsvangirai, Arthur ...


Lee Jay Walker serves as Tokyo Correspondent of The Seoul Times. He specializes in int'l relations and geopolitics. He is also involved in analyst work and research on business. After finishing BA degree in East European Studies at the University of London, he earned MA degree in Asia Pacific Studies at Nottingham Trent University. Website at http://www.leejaywalker.wordpress.com where work is published.

 

back

 

 

 

The Seoul Times, Shinheung-ro 36ga-gil 24-4, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea 04337 (ZC)
Office: 82-10-6606-6188 Email:seoultimes@gmail.com
Copyrights 2000 The Seoul Times Company  ST Banner Exchange