Press Conference Held for the Establishment of the 'Family ADR/ODR Mediator Training Organization'

On March 30, 2026, Hironori Kobayashi, Representative Director of ReLife Technology Co., Ltd., who serves as the Secretary-General, held a press conference for the establishment of the 'Family ADR/ODR Mediator Training Organization.'

With the introduction of the joint custody system on April 1, 2026, a new framework will begin where parents cooperate to decide important matters for their children even after divorce. However, issues such as unpaid child support, poverty in single-parent households, lack of reflection of children's opinions, and mental burden due to prolonged mediation have been pointed out. Additionally, the shortage of human resources in courts is becoming serious, and there is a growing need for the expansion of the role of family ADR/ODR.

Against this background, this organization was established with the aim of establishing a training and certification system for mediators, making policy recommendations, and conducting public relations activities in collaboration with lawyers, researchers, and private ADR institutions.

[Secretary-General Comment (Hironori Kobayashi, Representative of ReLife Technology Co., Ltd.)] Kobayashi stated at the conference: 'I believe that Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) is an effective means to eliminate time and location constraints and expand options for dispute resolution. On the other hand, family issues such as divorce and custody cannot be solved by digitalization alone; the role of a mediator who understands the emotions and relationships of the parties is essential.'

'The Family ADR/ODR Mediator Training Organization is an important step toward improving the quality of dispute resolution in Japan by fostering the expertise, ethics, and dialogue skills of mediators along with the spread of ODR. We hope that by complementing technology and people, we can realize a society where everyone can resolve troubles with peace of mind.'

[Main Statements at the Press Conference] Director Michiko Koizumi (Representative of ADR Center for Families) pointed out the reality of children being involved in disputes based on her experience as a family court investigator, emphasizing the importance of ADR that focuses on processes that parties can accept, and the need for high-quality mediator training.

Director Hiromi Takeuchi (Lawyer, Deputy Secretary-General of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations' Family Law Committee) explained the significance of family ADR where parties resolve issues through dialogue, based on cases where conflicts escalate due to court proceedings, and spoke about the need for training mediators with professional knowledge and skills.

Director Hideaki Irie (Professor at Kyushu University Graduate School of Law, Director of the Japan Association of Arbitrators and ADR) pointed out that while Japan's mediation system has a history of over 100 years, mediator training has not been systematized, and emphasized the need for society to think about systems and practices with the introduction of the joint custody system.

[Overview of Q&A] Regarding the training and certification system for mediators, it was stated that while it is currently under consideration, the policy is to consider a mechanism to learn knowledge unique to family cases, such as DV/moral harassment response, child psychology, and parent-child interaction, in addition to training in mediation techniques.

Regarding the timing of the establishment, it was explained that the need for an inter-industry training organization has increased against the background of the development of systems related to the Hague Convention, legal amendments regarding parent-child interaction, the spread of online procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing social need for rational dispute resolution.

[About the Family ADR/ODR Mediator Training Organization] - Main Activities: Training and certification of mediators, industry-government-academia collaboration/policy recommendations/advocacy, public relations/awareness activities. - Officers at Establishment: Directors: Hideaki Irie, Hiromi Takeuchi, Shuhei Ninomiya, Michiko Koizumi. Secretary-General: Hironori Kobayashi.

ReLife Technology Co., Ltd. will continue to work on the spread of dispute resolution through dialogue and the resolution of social issues through the provision of online dispute resolution services. In addition, with the enforcement of joint custody in April, we have officially launched an ODR service called 'Ricokatsu Chotei' against the background of the growing social need for rational dispute resolution.