Government to submit bill allowing joint custody after divorce

The Japanese government is slated to submit a bill during the ongoing ordinary session of parliament to revise the Civil Code to allow divorced parents to share custody of their children.

On Tuesday, the family law subcommittee of the Legislative Council, which advises the justice minister, approved a draft outline of the planned bill, which is expected to be approved at a general meeting of the council in mid-February and then submitted to Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi.

According to the Justice Ministry, three of 21 subcommittee members voted against the draft outline, but it was adopted by a majority vote.