Pop diva Namie Amuro, currently on the biggest ever overseas tour by a
Japanese performer, has suddenly taken a greater interest in motherhood than
ever before, according to Josei Seven (5/13-20).
Once the undisputed queen of Japanese pop, Amuro is trying to resurrect her
career with an Asian tour focusing in Taiwan and South Korea.
But rumors of an impending marriage for her ex-husband Sam have apparently
sparked Amuro's maternal instincts like no time since the birth of her
5-year-old son, Haruto.
At the heart of her troubles is Japan's stance on child custody, which
currently is given only to one parent in the event of a divorce.
Currently Amuro and her former husband live on different floors of the same
condominium, taking care of Haruto for a week at a time.
"Amuro heard that Sam is thinking of re-marrying. She's not at all opposed
to the idea of Sam going off to live with another woman, but she's fairly
worried about what will happen to Haruto if that comes about," a music
industry insider tells Josei Seven. "Even though Sam does hold sole custody
rights of Haruto, they've brought him up together and the boy's currently in
an environment where he can see either of his parents whenever he wants to.
But if Haruto gets a new mama, there'll be times when things don't go as
smoothly as they are now."
Japan's glitterati is packed with stories of troubles faced by celebrities'
kids when their parents divorce. Some of the celebrities have even been
denied the right to see their own flesh and blood. Many local experts argue
that any mother figure is still better than raising a kid in a single parent
environment.
"In the United States it's really common for kids to go from one place to
another if their parents are divorced, but that concept hasn't yet taken
root in Japan and I don't think it really provides emotional stability for
the child. Most of the time when a new mother is welcomed into a home,
people tend to have their kids raised in the complete family because they
believe that makes it easier on the children," Hiromi Ikeuchi, a marriage
counselor, tells Josei Seven. "To prevent troubles for the children
involved, some say it's better for the parent without custodial rights to
stay away from the new family for about one year to give the child time to
settle in."
Amuro marked the start of her Asian tour by getting a tattoo of Haruto's
name etched into her bicep. It may be the closest memory she has of her son
for some time.
"Amuro's incredibly busy and, if Sam has sole custodial rights, (his
marriage) would mean there'll be a fair bit of distance placed between her
and Haruto," the music industry insider tells Josei Seven. "Poor Amuro looks
like she'll have to brace herself to getting along as a divorced mother with
no custodial rights."