Describing the situation as an “embarrassment” for Japan, Shibayama said the mood had shifted within the Liberal Democratic Party towards reforming the system that gives one parent total control over a child’s future. Sole custody is often awarded to the parent who was last with the child, triggering a race to abduct them first.

Shibayama said he was “very sorry” for what the government had done to families.

“We have very, very serious requests from parents, grandmas, and grandfathers who lost their children and grandchildren,” he said.

“Nowadays, more and more people divorce, and such unhappy children are increasing very rapidly. So, under this very old family system, lots of families will face a very serious crisis.”

Japanese upper house councillor Mizuho Umemura said it was time for public international pressure.

“We can’t change the law on our own. We need international help,” the Japan Innovation Party MP said. “The victims of this are the children.”

Umemura and Shibayama urged Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the issue publicly in Japan.

“This is casting a shadow over our good relationship with each other and Australia is an important country for Japan in many ways,” said Umemura. “It’s unfortunate that we have this hovering over our good relationship at a time when geopolitics is so important.”

Umemura accused the Liberal Democratic Party of running away from the issue.

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“They push it down the road, they push it down to the next person,” she said. “I am also a mother myself. My heart breaks for the parents and children.”

“The Japanese government has done this to them: I want to apologise to the parents. A lot of them have committed suicide because they can’t see their children.”

The Australian government has lodged a submission with the Japanese government’s ongoing review of the system, urging them to change their laws. Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed off on the submission, but she has been reluctant to criticise the Japanese government publicly.

In a statement, she said the Australian government had encouraged Japan to find a solution that allowed children to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents.

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“I understand that the pain and distress these families are feeling is immense,” she said.

“We welcome Japan considering a range of family law reforms, and Australia has made a submission to Japan’s Ministry of Justice’s Family Law Review, in support of an approach that allows for shared parenting.”

A spokesman for the Japanese embassy in Australia defended the system.

“The Japanese Government prioritises the best interests of the child when dealing with child custody issues, and meets its international obligations,” the spokesman said.

Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Watch the 60 Minutes report.

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