🎙️ Episode 13: Joint Custody Alone Won’t Fix Japan’s Flawed System — with Waka Ikeda (Konohana)

In this episode, I sit down with freelance journalist Waka Ikeda, known for her powerful reporting on gender and social issues in Japan, including her work for The Japan Times. We talk about her journey from marketing in New York to becoming a voice for marginalized women in Japan, and how writing became both her profession and her therapy.

Our main focus is the controversial joint custody bill discussion in Japan. While the proposed law aims to allow children access to both parents after divorce, Waka explains why many are pushing back — including over 240,000 petition signers — and why joint custody alone won’t solve deeper systemic issues.

We explore:

• The difference between shinken (legal custody) and kangoken (physical custody)
• Why Japan’s current sole custody system is flawed, but also why the proposed changes may be dangerous without stronger protections
• The realities of child support enforcement, wage gaps, and the burden on single mothers
• The risks of joint custody in cases of domestic violence and the lack of legal safeguards
• What Japan can learn from other countries — and what still needs to change

This is a deeply personal and eye-opening conversation about family, justice, and the urgent need for reform in Japan’s legal and social systems.

🎨Doria Kriouche made the art

🎙️Mai Nguyen edited the episode

📰 This is Waka's article:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/05/10/japan/joint-custody-japan-reform-problems/

📰 And another that is very clear and informative:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-10/japan-set-to-finally-allow-joint-custody-of-children/103658948

🌐 An amazing website that explains the current situation in Japan for DV:

https://www.safeparentsjapan.net/en/

📝 The petition to work on protection from DV:

https://chng.it/B6mNtHVW9N

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