Legal child support set at 20,000 yen per month considered as a measure to combat non-payment, and as a means of claiming in divorce proceedings

Japan’s Justice Ministry is moving to set a new “statutory child support” at about ¥20,000 ($135) a month, according to officials briefed on the plan. The payment could be claimed even if divorced parents did not agree on support at the time of separation, part of an effort to address widespread nonpayment.

A revised Civil Code creating the system is set to take effect by May 2026. The ministry presented a draft regulation to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday and will finalize details after reviewing party feedback and public comments.

Currently, fewer than half of single mothers have a child support arrangement, and only about 28 percent actually receive payments, a welfare ministry survey found. Advocates say the lack of enforceable support leaves many single-parent households struggling financially.