Judgment Orders Olympic Table Tennis Medalist Ai Fukuhara to Return Eldest Son to Ex-Husband
(FLASH combined weekly edition on August 22nd and 29th, 2023)
In a recent court ruling, Ai Fukuhara, a renowned Olympic table tennis medalist, has been instructed to return her eldest son to her ex-husband, Jiang Hongjie. The decision comes after Ai Fukuhara failed to comply with the joint custody arrangement established between the former couple, resulting in legal action and a plea from her ex-husband during a press conference.
The dispute between Fukuhara and Jiang dates back to their divorce in July 2021. Under the agreement, joint custody of their two children, an eldest daughter and son, was determined, with the children residing with Jiang in Taiwan, their country of birth.
Last month, Fukuhara traveled to Taiwan to visit her children for the first time in a year and a half. She promised to only spend time with her eldest son in Japan during the summer holidays but subsequently cut off contact and refused to return him to Jiang.
Concerned about his son’s well-being, Jiang filed a petition with the Tokyo Family Court, requesting the return of his child. In response, Fukuhara sought mediation to alter the custody arrangement in favor of sole custody. However, the family court sided with Jiang, ordering Fukuhara to surrender her eldest son and denying her request for sole custody.
Despite the court’s ruling, Fukuhara has refused to comply, prompting Jiang to travel to Japan urgently. In an emotional press conference, he pleaded for the return of his son, expressing his desire to see him as soon as possible. Jiang’s lawyer, Aiko Obuchi, confirmed the urgency of the matter, highlighting the issuance of a temporary restraining order due to the potential harm to the child and the undesirability of separating siblings.
Efforts to locate Fukuhara have been unsuccessful thus far. If found, it is expected that she would be required to immediately return her eldest son. Failure to comply with the court’s order could lead to compulsory execution. Fukuhara’s decision to appeal the judgment has added further complications to the case.
Legal experts specializing in international marriages warn that removing the child from Jiang, the custodial parent, could result in charges of kidnapping a minor. In Japan, some misconceptions exist regarding the definition of abduction, often incorrectly assuming it does not amount to kidnapping. However, if Fukuhara were to flee abroad with her child, the seriousness of the offense would be escalated.
The search continues for Fukuhara, and authorities are prepared to take appropriate action to ensure the safe return of the child. The outcome of the case holds significance not only for the involved parties but also for fathers worldwide whose children have faced similar circumstances.
Jiang is speaking at the Japan Foreign Correspondents Club. Attorney Obuchi is sitting next to me.
Olympic table tennis medalist Ai Fukuhara (34) was ordered by a court to return her eldest son to her ex-husband Jiang Hongjie (34). Her ex-husband also appealed in a press conference to respond as soon as possible, and although she countered through her agent, she herself has not appeared on stage.
In early August, Fukuhara’s home, located on the top floor of a luxury apartment in a residential area near Shinjuku, Tokyo, had no lights at night. Normally, life would have been there with the eldest son (4) he brought back from Taiwan…
[Erthygl gysylltiedig: Mae Fukuhara Ai, cyn-ŵr yn adrodd am “fesurau cyfreithiol” dros blant… Ymddangosiad teledu yn cynyddu mewn fflamau, gan symud o fflat 300 miliwn yen yn creu teimlad “ymyl clogwyn”]
In July 2021, Fukuhara Jiang, a former table tennis player from Taiwan, divorced. For the eldest daughter (5) and the eldest son, joint custody of the previous couple was established, and the two children lived with Mr. Jiang in Taiwan where they were born.
In July 2022, Fukuhara visited Taiwan to reunite with his child for the first time in a year and a half. I took care of my eldest son and returned to Japan with the promise that I would only spend time with him in Japan during the summer holidays.
After that, however, Fukuhara cut off contact and has not returned his eldest son to Go clan until now.
“Mr Fukuhara sends his eldest son to nursery school and takes him on trips to Disneyland and Singapore.
Frustrated, Jiang files a petition with the Tokyo Family Court to hand over his eldest son. On the other hand, Fukuhara filed for mediation to change to sole custody.
As a result, the judgment issued by the family court on July 20 ordered Fukuhara to hand over his eldest son. In addition, a “retention order” was issued in urgent cases. In addition, Fukuhara was denied sole custody.
However, Fukuhara refused to bring his eldest son back, so Mr. Go came to Japan in a hurry and in a press conference on July 27, he said in tears, “I want to see my son as soon as possible.” The lawyer Aiko Obuchi, who was present at the meeting, spoke.
“It is very unusual for a temporary restraining order to be issued. In other words, it is a matter of urgency. As a result of joint evidence being presented, it can be said that the family court has decided that it would be harmful to the child to stay with Mr Fukuhara.
Also, it should have been taken into account that the situation where brothers and sisters are separated is not desirable. Failure to comply with the order will result in compulsory execution. But right now, I don’t know where Mr Fukuhara is.”
If Fukuhara was discovered, he would have to return his eldest son immediately, so it is possible that he is hiding.
In addition, it was revealed that Fukuhara filed an appeal against the judgment issued by the court on August 3. The lawyer Obuchi continues with a shocked expression.
“As I said at the press conference, a temporary restraining order takes effect as soon as it is issued. If you want to hide it and not enforce it, there is no other way but to borrow the power of the police.
But it is not our purpose to corner Mr. Fukuhara. Mr Jiang only wants Mr Fukuhara to return his eldest son amicably.”
If a criminal complaint is filed and an investigation is launched, there is a possibility of arrest. A lawyer specializing in international marriages has this to say about this case:
“They both have custody, but if they take the child away from Jiang, who is their custodian, they will be charged with kidnapping a minor. In fact, such incidents have happen. In Japan, people tend to think that abduction does not count as kidnapping, but that is wrong.
On the other hand, if the other party goes abroad, it becomes difficult to arrest him.
“Right now, Mr. Fukuhara may be abroad. He may plan to escape abroad for a while, but if he takes his child abroad, the crime will be even more serious. You should tell him where he is and return the child.” (Ibid.)
If “Ai-chan” was too much, the fathers of the world whose children were taken from them would want him arrested.
(FLASH combined weekly edition on August 22nd and 29th, 2023)
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