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Japan to spend ¥8.8 bil on humanitarian aid for Ukraine

33 Comments

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Having spent a lot of time in Kobe I can say that many foreigners from Jews to Indians have made Kobe, Japan more than a passable home.

Japan needs to open up more but from the large number of downvotes and there are many on the JT forum, it seems past realities mean little today…

12 ( +17 / -5 )

JimToday  07:04 am JST

I hope that Ukrainians do realize that becoming a refugee in Europe is a far far better option than to come to Japan and try to rebuild their life. 

Some 17,000 Eastern European Jews lived in the Japanese Empireduring WWII. Additionally an estimated 24000 Jews escaped the Holocaust either by immigrating through Japan or living under direct Japanese rule. When you are a refugee you go where you can that is safe. Today Japan is far more westernized than it was 80 years ago.

10 ( +17 / -7 )

So many negative, fear-mongering posts. Japan and many other nations in the free world are offering safe refuge to these poor people displaced by invading, fascist Russia - not mass immigration.

Japan has stated they are prioritizng those Ukrainian refugees who have family connections - Japanese and Ukrainian - resident in Japan.

The language, culture, working style, attitude and behavior will make fitting into the Japanese society way too difficult for many!

Millions of European refugees sought refuge after WW2 in nations completely foreign to them in terms of culture, language and customs. Mamy spoke not a single word of their new nations language. The vast majority of them settled and succeeded brilliantly.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

There's nothing wrong with helping Ukrainian refugees but the 8.8 billion yen could have been better spent to improve the lives of single mothers and other underprevileged people living here.

There are support structures and networks to help those in Japan who need immediate help. The Ukrainian refugees have the clothes on their backs, no warm home, no idea where their next meal will come from and a need for medicines. The money could not be better spent than helping such unfortunate people during the time of their greatest need.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Contrary to false insinuations here earlier portraying some of Ukraine’s men as cowards,

there are no Western news accounts of Ukrainian desertions or dereliction of duty like soldiers intentionally harming themselves to avoid combat at the time of that posting.

The Russians on the other hand have had numerous documented desertions.

Such insinuations that a Ukraine would harm himself reads like more propaganda from Russian News Agency Tass trying to dismantle the world’s support for Ukraine: 

*Mar 9, 2022 - “Japan shooting itself in the foot by joining US-led anti-Russian bandwagon — diplomat” -*

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Some 17,000 Eastern European Jews lived in the Japanese Empireduring WWII. 

Wisely stated by OssanAmerica.

Not to mention the Koreans, Chinese, Malays, Thais, Dutch, Europeans, Russians, Indonesians, Burmese and many, many other cultures who lived side by side in the Japanese Empire.

It's not as if Japan does not know how to live with different cultures. Quite the contrary.

The Ukrainians will be very welcome.

4 ( +12 / -8 )

A myopic idea of the situation: “Why would women leave…? - Not every woman in Ukraine has ‘a man’. This woman has an aunt, mother & sister that she and her Japanese husband are desperately trying to bring here to Japan:

Mar. 8 - https://japantoday.com/category/national/ukraine-born-woman-in-japan-awaits-reunion-with-family

4 ( +6 / -2 )

YES, and thank you Japan. Please let us make sure that this aid goes to the right organizations and NGO's.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What!? Japan sending aid is fine but not taking in more of a share to refugees is acceptable? - Seems some expat ‘gatekeepers’ here are really pushing an agenda for Ukraine’s refugees to keep ‘closer to home’? Why?

Us but not ‘them’? Seems just days ago, they were also creating unreasonable fears in that ‘with so many now fleeing Ukraine, the rest of Europe & Western nations needed to be vigilant that there will be many Russian ‘trained-killers & terrorist insurgents’ moving amongst them, perhaps trying to trickle in the other countries. -

Seems like overblown, ridiculous, xenophobic hate of ‘other’ foreigners that should be given the same opportunities in Japan we were all given.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

There are thousands of families in Japan living on the poverty line

Children of single-parent families and young carers too.

That money could be better spent.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There's nothing wrong with helping Ukrainian refugees but the 8.8 billion yen could have been better spent to improve the lives of single mothers and other underprevileged people living here. Just send the bill to Putin.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Japan is truly a kind country to foreign countries. I wonder how many tens of billions of yen, including private donations, will eventually go to Ukraine?

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Sorry, this is not Canada..

Unfortunately

-2 ( +10 / -12 )

I hope it goes where it’s needed but I think the Ukrainian Oli’s will pull a Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue and take the money and run.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Sorry, this is not Canada

Canada size: 9,984,670 km2

Japan size: 378,000 km²

Canada population: 38 million

Japan population: 126 million

I am wondering which country is the most suitable to host lot of people.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Probably most of that money will never reach the Ukrainian refugees.

The money will be spent on the "Salary", Fees, Travel and Parties of the thousands of UN bureaucrats.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I hope that Ukrainians do realize that becoming a refugee in Europe is a far far better option than to come to Japan and try to rebuild their life. The language, culture, working style, attitude and behavior will make fitting into the Japanese society way too difficult for many!

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

There are thousands of families in Japan living on the poverty line but whenever there is a war anywhere in the world Japan is summoned by Big Boss to pay the bill.

Japan = World Cash Dispenser

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Japan granted short-term residency for 90 days

A Tourist visa?

Give it up LDP. Your attempt at intentional humanitarian virtue signaling is a failure to anyone who reads past the headline.

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

Japan has welcomed eight Ukrainians due to Putins War. If this wasn't so pathetic, I would value Japan sending cash. However, I don't. Sometimes it's about more than money.

-9 ( +7 / -16 )

It is better for Japan to help other countries with economic aid than to invite thousands of refugees..

Sorry, this is not Canada..

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

Negative votes como te meeeee..

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

*come Lol..

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Throw money at it, as always. While such assistance is useful, how about accepting more than EIGHT people on what is tantamount to a tourist visa, and then an uncertain and scary future. Japan will eventually send them back, war zone or not. So, why not guarantee hundreds instant refugee status? Show some TRUE humanitarian spirit.

-14 ( +8 / -22 )

And how many Japanese are offering to receive refugees?

And the government in Japan embarrasses itself by its failed response!

-18 ( +8 / -26 )

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