Tags : child custody, Japanese law and U.S. law custody, parental child abduction
American Dad Freed from Jail in Japanese Custody Battle
Okazaki, Japan (AHN) – A Tennessee man who was being held by Japanese authorities for taking his own children away from his Japanese ex-wife was released from jail on Thursday. Now the custody battle for his children is poised to involve two of the most powerful nations on the planet.
“We were pleased to learn that Mr. Savoie was released from police custody this afternoon,” said Lori Shoemaker, U.S. Embassy press officer. “We hope that we can work with the Japanese government to come to a long term solution on the issue of international parental child abduction.”
Tennessean Christopher Savoie, 38, is a naturalized Japanese citizen and allegedly abducted his two children — 8-year-old Isaac and 6-year-old Rebecca when his ex-wife Noriko was walking the children to school on September 28 in Yanagawa. With his children in tow, Savoie traveled to the city of Fukuoka the site of the closest U.S. Consulate. As he rushed to the gates and was telling the guards to let him in, he was arrested while still outside the compound, on Japanese soil.
Savoie and his first wife, Noriko were married for 14 years. Their marriage ended in a bitter divorce in January. The Savoies were both citizens of the United States and Japan and resided in Japan until shortly before their marriage crumbled. Noriko Savoie was awarded custody of the children and promised to stay in the United States. However, in the summer she left the United States with the children and moved to Japan.
It was then that U.S. Courts awarded sole custody of the two children to Christopher Savoie. Interestingly, Japanese law does not recognize U.S. law in matters like this and views Noriko Savoie as the primary custodian. Japanese law traditionally practices that one parent is typically given sole custody.
Legal experts reveal what also makes this case difficult is the fact the couple is still considered married in Japan because they never filed for divorce there. Further complicating this case is the fact Japanese authorities say, the children are Japanese and have Japanese passports and not U.S. Passports.
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