Japan is amidst a culture shift in the wake of a court case, where co-parenting after divorce and children's rights to their divorced parents are increasingly being highlighted. This news emphasizes how shared custody norms are changing, compared to traditional practices mainly favoring mothers. The debate is ongoing across various courts, families, and the community, concerning the positives and negatives of a shared system, and how it might affect the mental and emotional health of involved children.

Traditionally, in Japan, sole custody, predominantly by the mother, is the norm post-divorce. However, recent legal battles and an increasingly vocal public discourse around parental rights and children's wellbeing are causing a shift. Japanese society is now grappling with finding a balance between maintaining societal harmony, ensuring both parents remain involved in their children's lives, and most importantly, safeguarding the children's welfare amidst these changes.

In contrast, co-parenting or joint custody is much more common in the U.S. and EU. Courts in these regions often strive to maintain the involvement of both parents in a child's life following divorce despite the challenges it may present. This reflects a different societal view on family structures and children's rights post-divorce, underpinned by different historical and legal contexts.