My friend met her and married her in Japan and had registered with the local government office as required in Japan. However, the Japanese wife as it turned out had been married to another man in the US. This US marriage was a legally recognized marriage in Japan, consequently, according to Japanese law, she was guilty of a crime, bigamy.

Eventually the American guy had to enagage legal help, which took an incredible amount of time and money that he had to pay to get the mess sorted out. He had to engage both US and Japanese legal counsel and ended up in Japanese family court.

My friend was uncharacteristically naive and was taken advantage by this girl looking to meet a well off foriegn guy. The word is that this Japanese woman is back out looking for the next guy, so please BE CAREFUL!

I am going through a divorce and I need some help.
I am an english teacher for a High School, I am under a marriage visa that doesnt expire until may next year.
My wife wants a divorce by mutual agreement, but I am worried about my status.
It seems she doesnt want to go to court, all she wants is separation.

If I agree to do so, will my visa be voided immediately?
Can I keep my job if my visa is not voided or until it expires?
What kind of visa can I get to stay in Japan?
Will I have to pay a pension to her?
Does she have to apply for pension or is it automatically set?
Can she do this anytime after we divorce?

We have no kids.

A lot of questions, I know… Sorry.

Thank you very much.

I am going through a divorce and I need some help.
I am an english teacher for a High School, I am under a marriage visa that doesnt expire until may next year.
My wife wants a divorce by mutual agreement, but I am worried about my status.
It seems she doesnt want to go to court, all she wants is separation.

If I agree to do so, will my visa be voided immediately?
Can I keep my job if my visa is not voided or until it expires?
What kind of visa can I get to stay in Japan?
Will I have to pay a pension to her?
Does she have to apply for pension or is it automatically set?
Can she do this anytime after we divorce?

A lot of questions, I know… Sorry.

Thank you very much.

Just thought to straighten that out.

Japan set for divorce rate boom

New pension laws coming into effect in Japan could lead to an explosion in divorces, some experts are warning. The rules will make it easier for wives to claim up to half their husband’s pension once the marriage is over.

The number of divorces in Japan has been rising for several decades, but the trend reversed four years ago when the new laws were first discussed. Many believe that wives in unhappy marriages have been waiting for the new laws to come into effect on Sunday.

Japan’s divorce rate is still quite low – around two divorces for every 1,000 marriages. Shame is one reason. A failed marriage is frowned upon here, particularly among the older generation. But money is another important factor. Wives often have real concerns that they will not be able to support themselves if they leave the marital home.

Retirement looms

The change in the law will help. It will make it easier for women to force their husbands to share their pensions. One survey suggested that in as many as 42,000 couples, wives have been waiting for the rules to change.

Last autumn, the social insurance agency began offering a confidential service which helped couples calculate how much of the husband’s pension should be given to the wife. Some 90% of the applications have been from women.

And there is another factor at work. Japan’s baby boom generation is starting to retire this year. That adds up to around five million mostly male workers, who have spent their lives working long hours, and often drinking long after work, several nights a week. These absentee spouses will now have much more time to spend at home – all day, every day – perhaps for the first time in the couple’s married life. Many here believe that will prove too much for their wives to cope with.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6515193.stm

As far as i am aware

Bob- This will not apply to foreigner pension refunds. One of the conditions of a refund is that you have not collected pension before. You will get the refund before your wife can get a chance to get her hands on the dosh.

John B- She has to specifically apply. This system only applies to couples divorces after April 2007. From April 2007-08, applications require agreement from both the husband and wife, or decision by the courts. However, from 2008, this does not require the husbands agreement.

Gullevek- Yes, like anything else there will be a squizillion pieces of paper to fill out. And Masuo-san, it does work the other way around. The purpose of this law is to remove the disparity in income between the (ex) husband and wife.

Y- If you live overseas, and decide to get divorced overseas, remember, you can probably take half of everything he owns, so I wouldn’t be so worried about the pension!!

This system is extremely complicated, which is it part reflected by the large number of people contacting the information service. Who is eligible, for what period of what pension payments of the husband, and exactly how much the divorced wife will receive all seem to require an advanced maths degree to calculate. There have been a number of articles in the Nikkei recently highlighting these points. I guess if your ex-wife is going to run away with half of your cash, you’d hope that it is as hard as possible!