world away, young children taken by their mothers. american children who have been cut off from their fathers. >> i miss her sleeping on my chest. she used to lay down on my chest and fall asleep. >> i can still smell his hair and remember what it's like to kiss him on the neck and carry him to school. >> it feels like someone died. the problem is he's not dead. he's alive somewhere in japan. and i can't see him. >> reporter: there are 321 american children who have been spirited off to japan since 1994. how many of you have court-ordered custody of your children? how many of you actually get to see your children whenever you want to see them? none of you. >> i haven't seen a picture of him in two years. the only time i get to see my kids is when i dream about them. >> reporter: what is it about japan? japanese laws based on centuries of tradition favoring the mother. in japan there's no such thing as joint custody and fathers