Need advice on behalf of a friend for what to do after being betrayed by his Japanese wife, who turned out to be a bigamist. I am very worried about him and I thought it best to get him help.

My friend is an American guy and found out that his Japanese wife - ****edit******- is already married to another guy - She never got divorced from her first husband....

My friend met her and married her in Japan and had registered with the local government office as required in Japan. However, the Japanese wife as it turned out had been married to another man in the US. This US marriage was a legally recognized marriage in Japan, consequently, according to Japanese law, she was guilty of a crime, bigamy.

Eventually the American guy had to enagage legal help, which took an incredible amount of time and money that he had to pay to get the mess sorted out. He had to engage both US and Japanese legal counsel and ended up in Japanese family court.

He was also married in the Church and the woman lied about her first marriage to the priest in pre-marriage counseling. Of course, the Church no longer recognizes my friend's marriage.

My friend was uncharacteristically naive and was taken advantage by this girl looking to meet a well off guy. What makes it all the worse is that this Japanese woman is unrepentent and now looking for the next guy.

Naturally, my friend is devestated and can't seem to pull himself out of this emotional crisis. He is a great guy and any advice would be helpful.

Did he get his marriage "voided", I don't know the legal term, with his wife?

Did he get his marriage annulled?

Did he have any kids with her?

If:

Yes

Yes

No

Then he is a free man. That has no problems. Plus he is well off financially.
Tell him what she is. Tell him that there are many more single women out there.

why the inclusion of a name here? The name is also the name of an author.

have your friend come here and delete the name.

I heard that the Russian mail order brides only run off after you get them over here.

What's the deal that he can't get one over here?

Is he THAT unattractive that he has to buy one?

Cato,

I've often read that the Japanese have shame, but not guilt. Meaning that they feel public humiliation, but not the private censure our inner policeman the conscience provides. My personal experience with my SIL tends to bear this out as well.

NJ

Please please tell me where the Japanese feel no guilt.
Really.



I am going to assume your friend is a solider stationed in Japan?
The JAG office and the Japanese consulate should be able to assist him with any legalities that may arise.

My advice, he needs to ditch her. Now.

(Cato Fung I presume?)

He can always go and buy one from SE Asia.

Cheap boom boom.

Well your friend is lucky that his lying "wife" was discovered sooner rather than later and be happy to be rid of her. As you said, your friend was naive. Take it as a lesson learned that he should be more careful about marrying a woman he hardly knows.