PRESS CONFERENCE
Mme. Fichot, the Estranged Japanese Spouse Accused of Child Abduction, Speaks Up
Madame Fichot, Wife of Vincent Fichot (via zoom)
Harumi Okamura, Attorney & Hajime Kambara, Attorney
14:00-15:00 Wednesday, December 14, 2022
(The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation)
* Madame Fichot will join the event online.
Four years ago, Vincent Fichot, 40, a French husband and father, accused his Japanese ex-wife Mme. Fichot (pseudonym) of abducting their children. He claims that Japan's divorce and separation proceedings are out of step with other developed nations as they do not recognize joint custody. In July 2021, Mr. Fichot went on hunger strike for three weeks, making their dispute news across the world and coming to the attention of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in Tokyo to attend the Olympics opening ceremony.
In July this year, Tokyo Family Court granted the pair a divorce, giving Mme. Fichot sole custody of their children. In return, the defendant (Mr. Fichot) claimed that his children were kidnapped by their own mother and published a video purported to be security camera footage, allegedly showing their daughter being put into the trunk of a car from their garage. In November, it was reported in Japan and abroad that the French judicial authorities had issued an international arrest warrant for Mme Fichot for kidnapping.
In a rare move, Mme. Fichot has agreed to come to the FCCJ to explain her side of the story; her views on her ex-husband's claims about kidnapping; as well as the issue of sole custody in Japan. She says that Mr. Fichot disclosed personal information including the names of the children, and repeatedly slandered her as a criminal, threatening their lives and causing Mme. Fichot to suffer tremendous emotional distress. Her lawyers have filed a defamation claim for damages against the two media companies, and Mr. Fichot's support organization.
Over the past several years, Mr. Fichot has held several press conferences at the FCCJ about his claims of parental child abduction. In line with its policy of neutrality, FCCJ is now giving the floor to Mme. Fichot to respond to the claims by her ex-husband over an issue that affects international marriages, joint custody, and children's rights.
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/x5959D8dNhdNMA1Z7
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event.
Professional Activities Committee