Background: I married a Japanese citizen while living in Japan on a work visa. She registered the marriage at a local ward office in Tokyo. Her sister and brother-in-law (both Japanese citizens and residents in Tokyo) were witnesses. We still have the registration form. I was not present when she registered the marriage due to my work commitments in Japan at that time. Soon after I returned to Canada and sponsored her to immigrate. She is now a Canadian citizen.
Fast forward a few decades and we agree to divorce. She wants to maintain her Japanese citizenship.
She has maintained her address, family registry, address, my number, etc. Her Japanese passport expired shortly before Covid. If she travels to Japan, she will need to enter under her Canadian passport. In any case, she does not want to return to Japan at this time. And she does not want to contact the Japanese embassy in Canada about this matter as she fears it would expose her dual citizenship.
My question is as follows: When Japan opens to tourists and I am allowed to enter, would the ward office accept a divorce form from me which she completed, with the same sister and brother-in-law witnessing (and being physically present at the ward office with me to answer questions if needed)? They could explain that her family commitments prevent her from being physically present. I have my passports going back to the time we were married, including my work visa, tax forms, utility bills, etc.
Of course we could divorce in Canada and avoid this. But divorce in Japan seems simpler when the parties agree.
I feel that if she returned to Japan to live and did not disclose her Canadian citizenship, they would accept the form without me being physically present, as long as I signed and used the same hanko used when she registered the marriage . So I want to ask if there is any way I could file the divorce form without her being present.
Thanks in advance for your comments.