1.
parental rights, parental authority, custody
The legal rights and responsibilities of a parent over their minor child, including decisions about education, residence, and welfare. In Japanese law, custody disputes in divorce are particularly significant.
Usage
In Japan, unlike many Western countries, joint custody after divorce has not traditionally been recognized — one parent is designated as the sole custodial parent (親権者). This has been a major topic of legal reform discussion. The word is a homophone of 真剣 (serious; real sword), which has a completely different meaning.