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December 1,2021

Andrew Campbell 

French authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a Japanese woman whose two children have been separated from their father in a case that has reignited debate in Japan about parental kidnapping. Vincent Fichot, 39, the children's French father who has lived in Japan for 15 years, has gained international attention for his efforts to reestablish contact with his son and daughter, whom he claims were kidnapped by their mother in 2018. The international warrant was issued in Fichot's case in response to allegations of parental abduction and endangering a minor. 

Fichot, a former finance worker, went on hunger strike on July 10 to raise international awareness of his desire to be reunited with his family. During a three-week hunger strike, Fichot sat outside a train station near the Olympic Stadium, where the virus-affected Tokyo Games' opening ceremony was held.

After attending the ceremony for Paris to host the 2024 Olympics, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on July 24. According to the French president's office, President Macron brought up Fichot's tragic situation during their meeting, calling it a priority. 

When parents divorce in Japan, there is no provision for shared custody, and authorities have long been accused of turning a blind eye when one parent denies the other access to their children. Despite the lack of official figures, human rights organizations estimate that approximately 150,000 minors in Japan are forcibly separated from their parents each year.