A foreign resident here married to a Japanese citizen sent us some more questions relating to divorce, signing off as "Trapped":

I want to divorce but my husband does not. (We have been married 18 years and have two junior high school-aged children.) Next year I am moving abroad with my children to put them into international school there. My husband is in agreement with this, but not with the divorce.

My question is, if I remain living abroad for a certain period of time, e.g., five years, can I then come back and file for divorce without his consent? How long does a couple normally have to live apart for divorce to be granted if one partner is against the divorce? Can I file for divorce at the Japanese Embassy overseas, or would I need to come back and do it here?