Support network backs Japanese-Filipino kids abandoned by fathers
We regularly receive emails from Japanese-Filipinos searching for their Japanese fathers. Many of these adults were abandoned as children, along with their Filipino mothers, while others were forced to leave Japan for various reasons.
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Though the circumstances are different for each family, many of these children (and mothers) lack the support of the father (financial or otherwise). So, in answer to these inquiries, the following nonprofit organizations may be of help:
The Citizens’ Network for Japanese-Filipino Children primarily offers support to abandoned Japanese-Filipino children (JFC). Their services include locating fathers within Japan and providing legal assistance, in cooperation with the JFC Lawyers Association, with issues such as paternal financial support and acquisition of Japanese nationality.
JFCNet also holds regular seminars and provides informative publications.
In the Philippines, JFCNet offers services for JFC and their mothers at the Maligaya House including a scholarship program for children, legal and psychological counseling, Japanese language classes and workshops, a research and publication program, and an advocacy and networking program.
An important point to note, says JFCNet, is that JFC born out of wedlock can acquire Japanese nationality if their Japanese father legally recognizes them before their 20th birthday, even if the JFC resides outside Japan.
For more information or to receive help from the Citizens’ Network for Japanese-Filipino Children, please visit or contact them in Japan at: JFCNet Tokyo Office, Nishishinjuku High-Home 206, Nishishinjuku 4-16-2, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo 160-0023. Email: jfcnet@jca.apc.org. Telephone/fax: (050) 3328-0143.
In the Philippines: Maligaya House, 18-A Cabezas Street, Project 4, Quezon City, Metro Manila, 1109 Philippines. Email: maligayahouse@gmail.com. Telephone/fax: (+63) (2) 913-8913.
JFCNet services are offered in Tagalog, English and Japanese.
The Center for Japanese-Filipino Families (CJFF) is a sister organization of JFCNet, supported by the United Church of Christ in Japan, United Church of Canada and the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity, or EMS, of Germany.
They offer a variety of services, which include: temporary housing; school and employment opportunities for JFC who travel to Japan to locate their fathers; counseling services; cultural activities; psychological support and related services, particularly for those unable to locate their fathers; regular workshops for JFC; and a youth development program.
For more information about CJFF, you can find their website at youthjapan.net/cjff.html.
Or, contact CJFF at: CJFF, Room 32, Japan Christian Center, 2-3-18 Nishi Waseda, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo 151-0069. Email: cjffinfo@gmail.com.
The Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) is “a nongovernment development organization created on February 6, 1996, to assist Filipino women migrants in Japan and their Japanese-Filipino children (JFC) in the promotion and protection of their human rights and welfare.”
Similar to the organizations mentioned above, DAWN provides a wide range of services for JFC and their mothers, including counseling, travel assistance to and from Japan in necessary cases, temporary shelter, health care assistance, educational support and legal help.
DAWN also works to provide other community services and opportunities to rehabilitate women and their children. Their website is at www.dawnphil.org
You can also visit or contact DAWN at: DAWN-Philippines, Room 514, Don Santiago Building, 1344 Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000. Telephone: (+63) (2) 526-9098. Fax: (632) 526-9101. Email: dawnphil@i-next.net.
For DAWN-Japan, email dawnjapan@hotmail.com
The Batis Center for Women, located in the Philippines, also assists women and their Japanese-Filipino children. Most of the cases they handle involve “returned women migrant workers from Japan with young children who have been abandoned or are separated from their Japanese husbands or partners.”
The Batis Center primarily works to rehabilitate women and children after they’ve returned from Japan, and their services cover counseling, education, financial assistance, advocacy, legal assistance, and health and medical support, among others.
Additionally, they partner with Batis-YOGHI, a youth organization devoted to providing ongoing support to JFC.
To contact The Batis Center, email batis@pacific.net.ph or call (+63) (2) 925-7843. You can contact Batis-YOGHI via the same email and phone number — ask for Lala Javier.
The Batis Center also has a regularly updated Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Batis-Center-for-Women/136570526371270.
If you know of any other organizations or services, especially any located in Japan, that provide support of any kind to Japanese-Filipino children, please email us.
ask ko lang po if papano ako makabalik ng japan kasi po di na po kami sinusuportahan ng asawa ko,kasal po kami last 2009 ang yung anak po namin ay 2yrs old pa lang ngaun may asthma po kasi yung anak ko kaya gusto ko makabalik ng japan para magtrabaho pampagamot sa anak ko…i need help po plsss….thank u
mari h.
July 20, 2011
hi i need to ask the process for getting paternal recognition for a filipino child from his japanese father.
Thanks
judz
August 12, 2011
First there is the Japanese government’s legal support center.
http://www.houterasu.or.jp/en/
Then you could try the JFBA’s or regional bar association advice service for foreigners.
http://www.nichibenren.or.jp/en/legal/counceling.html
There is a procedure for suing for recognition of paternity, so it should be doable. Just might cost some money.
kwbrow2
August 12, 2011
hi po ask ko kung pano kc may japanese ako anak sa japon.ngayon gusto ko po makapunta kme anak ko sa japn 7 year old na. un father nya sa shizuoka city japan.hosho mansion shimizu shizuoka city japan sa ejiridaicho ,gusto ko na makapunta gawa lumalaki na anak nmin at huminto na sya suporta.panu kme mag habol pirmado ang birthcert ng bata pero d kme kasal.at d rin nakarehitro ang anak nmin sa japn embsy.
cecilia algo
December 3, 2011
good evening po sa inyong lahat ,may anak po ako at japanese po ang tatay nya babae po at 2 and 5months npo cya ngayon ,itatanong ko po kung makakapunta po ba ng japan ang anak ko gusto ko po kasi sa japan sya mag aral at manirahan dahil maganda ang cultura nila ,nakapunta na po ako sa japan at don ako nabuntis pero dito ko sa pilipinas pinanganak ang anak ko dahil na rin sa kagustuhan ng tatay nya .Pagkapanganak ko po d siya umuwi dto para pumirma kaya wala pong apelyido ang anak ko pero may mga katibayan po ako na may anak siya sa akin paano po ba ang gagawin ko tulungan ninyo po ako ,maraming salamat po.
gina p
February 6, 2012
hello po. ask ko lng po japanese child po ako. simula po ng nmatay mother ko nwlan npo kami ng communication ng father ko. di po sila kasal ng mother ko and unfortunately po di ako nai aplido sa papa ko. tanging mga pictures lang po ang hawak ko. ng proof n anak nya ako. gusto ko po sana ma contact papa ko. slamat po.
jeffrey duerme
February 20, 2012