Sora Hirayama was last seen in Nabari, Japan after wrongful removal by his mother, Chiaki Hirayama. Prior to this, Chiaki had established herself as a nail artist in New York City, working with high-profile clients like Taylor Swift, Zoe Kravitz, Busy Phillips, Ashley Park, Jennifer Coolidge through the Tracey Mattingly Agency. Our family relocated to Japan with the understanding that it would provide a better life following her receipt of a U.S. Green Card. However, after arriving in Japan, circumstances changed significantly.
Leading up to his abduction, actions and steps were taken including taking and hiding his U.S. passport and other important documents. Situations like this highlight longstanding concerns surrounding gaps in international custody enforcement and aspects of Japanese family law that have been widely criticized for their handling of parental child abduction cases. When I did not agree with the situation as it unfolded, Chiaki presented me with a financial proposal related to relinquishing my parental rights, something I firmly refused.
This situation has also raised deeply personal concerns about how parental rights and responsibilities are approached and valued. Regardless of circumstance, I believe that a child’s relationship with their parent should never be treated as something that can be transferred or resolved through financial means.
There have also been broader concerns raised regarding patterns of conduct and accountability in matters involving parental rights and child welfare. While I cannot independently verify all historical claims, their existence further underscores the need for clear legal standards and enforcement.
It has been asserted that similar conduct has historical precedent within the Hirayama family, including claims that approximately four decades ago, Chiaki’s father (an industrialist associated with a rubber manufacturing company supplying major automotive firms like Toyota, Honda and Suzuki) was involved in the purchase of a child from a personal relationship. While such claims underscore broader concerns, they also highlight the urgent need for legal clarity and enforcement in matters of parental rights and child welfare.
At its core, this is about a child who has no voice in determining where they go, who raises them, or how their future is shaped. The impact of such situations extends far beyond legal arguments. It affects a child’s identity, emotional well being, and sense of stability, while profoundly altering the life of a parent who is left without answers or access.
I am sharing this account not only in the hope of being reunited with my son, but also to raise awareness about the urgent need for stronger legal protections, clearer international agreements, and accountability in cases of parental child abduction. This is not an isolated issue, and meaningful change is necessary to ensure that children are protected and that both parents are given a fair and lawful voice in their lives.
SORA HIRAYAMA 