2011/05/28

Japan to sign international child custody treaty

by AlJazeera

Japan has agreed to sign a treaty that settles international child custody disputes. Japan and Russia are the only G8 members not to have signed the Hague Convention on international child abduction. The Hague Convention on International Child Abduction aims to protect both parents' rights and abide by custody laws of the country where the child first lived. However, opposition to joint custody is strong in Japan. (AlJazeera)

Rainy season zone reaches central Japan, Tokyo

by Kyodo

The Japan Meteorological Agency said Friday the rainy season has started in the central and eastern regions including the Tokyo metropolitan area earlier than the average year. The period of frequent rain came 12 days earlier than usual for both the Tokai central region that includes Shizuoka and Aichi Prefectures and for the Kanto-Koshin eastern areas that include Nagano Prefecture, it said. (Kyodo)