item about custody of children in Japan
 

10 nations, EU press Japan again to join int'l child custody pact


Is this a big issue in Japan?

"Yamahana told them that Japan recognizes the seriousness of child custody disputes and has been seriously examining the possibility of joining the Hague Convention with a view to ensuring the welfare of children in difficult circumstances, the Foreign Ministry said."

Does anyone else read this between the lines and agrees that they're politely saying,"we are going to do whatever we want"?

"seriously examining the possibility" surely sounds like a dodge to me....

All governments use this code. They say "we are seriously takeing a look at such and so", when they really mean "we aint doing squat". It's said in that way so they can save face and or look good diplomatically. The other governments understand where they are comeing from cause they have driven down that road themselves.

Welcome to "diplomacy" 101.

If that Wikileaks thing has taught us anything, it's that what a government says, is usueally no where near what it's actually trying to do.

Like with most things the vast bulk of Japanese are probably blissfully unaware that there is any issue whatsoever. It's not really like this would be debated by any of the mainstream media here except some of the english newspapers.