By MINORU MATSUTANI Staff writer Foreigners who have divorced their Japanese spouses are often denied access to their children. This is because Article 819 of the Civil Code stipulates that only one of the parents can have parental rights following a divorce, causing family courts to rule against dual custody of children.   Thierry Consigny, an elected member of the Assembly for French Overseas Nationals for Japan and North Asia, promised...

JapanTimes   By DEBITO ARUDOU Anywhere in the world, noncitizens have fewer legal rights than citizens. Japan’s Supreme Court would agree: On June 2, in a landmark case granting citizenship to Japanese children of unmarried Philippines mothers, judges ruled that Japanese citizenship is necessary “for the protection of basic human rights.” A shortage of rights for some humans is evident, however, whenever police...