Lawyer Eri Mizutani founded Setagaya Yoga Law Firm in 2015, and it has become a pillar of support for cross-cultural families dealing with one of life’s most complex legal challenges: divorce in Japan. They can support couples living in Japan, one of whom is Japanese, where Japanese family law applies.

With almost a decade of private practice and two years of experience as a temporary judge at the Tokyo Family Court, Mizutani helps clients navigate the legal landscape with clarity and trust. 

Family Law for Divorce in Japan

Family law in Japan has its own complexities, and the firm’s expertise in cross-cultural divorce offers a unique lifeline to foreign residents with Japanese spouses navigating legal challenges in Japan.

Divorce in Japan can be straightforward if both parties agree to the terms and submit the proper paperwork. But when a couple cannot reach an agreement, things such as mediation or litigation can move into more complex territory. 

English Consultations for Divorce in Japan

For those who don’t speak Japanese fluently, understanding these options and how to go about them is daunting. This is where Setagaya Yoga Law Firm steps in, offering free consultations in English with their bilingual team. These can be either in person or online.

While family law cases often benefit from face-to-face consultations, the firm’s flexibility ensures that foreign clients—who may already be managing the stress of different legal norms—can access the support they need in a way that suits them. 

Bilingual Divorce Lawyers

After consultation, clients can decide on the amount of involvement from the firm, which is either advisory services or letting the firm handle the full legal process. Clients can consider advisory services if they are comfortable doing the process on their own and at a lower cost, while letting the firm be fully involved and hands-on during the entire process would be at a higher cost. 

The firm remains flexible and open to meeting clients where they are emotionally and financially, ensuring that no matter the level of involvement, clients know they have options and have full support throughout them. 

Child Custody in Japan

However, Setagaya Yoga Law Firm strongly emphasizes emotionally supporting their clients, especially through some of the more difficult transitions like child custody and the division of assets. “Japan currently has a single-custody approach where visitation rights must be clearly decided.

Abroad, many divorced couples can visit their children freely, but here, that isn’t the case,” explains Mizutani. “At the longest, deciding visitation rights can take up to a year or more. This is where clients take an emotional toll–some get furious, and some find it hard to understand why they just can’t see their kids.” 

Helping cross-cultural families

While the firm acknowledges the system’s legal realities and cultural difficulties, Setagaya Yoga Law Firm’s approach is one of empathy and understanding. Thus helping cross-cultural families through some of life’s most challenging moments.

Mizutani shares an assuring outlook, “Moving to a foreign country and building a life together with someone is a significant journey. Even when things come to an end, it doesn’t have to unravel into a big mess. Divorce may never be easy, but we are here to help families move through it with as much clarity and support as possible.” 

Visit setayoga.jp for more details

office@setayoga.com
English consultation is available free for the first session.
Admitted to bar in Japan/Tokyo Bar Association
Located nearby Yoga Station, ONLY 13 minutes subway-ride from Shibuya Station.