Children held by their parents start their "Baby-cry Sumo" match, resumed for the first time in four years due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, at the Sensoji temple in Tokyo on April 22, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday approved a bill to revise the Civil Code to allow divorced parents to share custody of their children amid calls for recognizing diversity in family relationships.

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The bill would allow divorced parents to enter a joint custody arrangement if they agree through discussion. If they cannot agree, a family court will intervene and decide whether to grant joint or sole custody.

Currently, in Japan, only one of the divorced parents is granted parental custody, which has faced criticism that parents who do not have parental responsibility are unable to be involved in raising their children

Currently, in Japan, only one of the divorced parents is granted parental custody, which has faced criticism that parents who do not have parental responsibility are unable to be involved in raising their children.

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The Japanese government plans to secure the passage of the bill by the end of the ongoing parliamentary session through June.

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The rules are set to take effect within two years following promulgation but would allow fathers and mothers who divorced before it comes into force to switch to joint custody.

If there is suspicion of child abuse or domestic violence by one of the parents, a family court will require the other parent to have sole custody under the bill.