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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017.Japan accepts 3 refugees in first half of 2017, despite record number of applications
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sensei258
Thumbs-down me all you want, but I for one am glad they're being so cautious.
Yubaru
While a percentage of this may be true, I find it incredulous that only 3 people out of the total number of applicants fit the criteria to be recognized as refugees.
Japan should be ashamed but they wont be, because the general public has it's head in the sand, and for the most part has ZERO idea of the situation as media does not make this information widely known.
Just a user
Me too. Smart to be strict, nothing wrong with it. Other countries should take a lesson
who cares what you find incredulous, they have their process, its strict, doesn't make it wrong.
So they have their head in the sand because otherwise they would let all these people in? Just because its not your idea of fairness?
Alex Einz
Well done Japan!
Just because someone applies as refugee in 99% cases its false application.
Great work in due diligence and maybe even 3 too many?
Raw Beer
I really would hate to see Japan follow the lead of Europe, which has wrecked its continent by opening their doors wide open.
since1981
sensei258, no thumbs down from me. It's what helps keep the country safe.
gogogo
Weak Japan seeing you even have a labor shortage!
Speed
I understand the cautiousness of the government but only three out of over 8,561 is pretty prohibitive. There has to more of them that are truly in need of protection. I can't believe that 99.97% of these are false applications.
kawabegawa198
Good on Japan. Most of these refugees bring nothing to their host country. Just look at the mess of western Europe.
AgentX
Pretty much sums up Japan when it comes to human rights in general...
Many nations that take in refugees and immigrants are in a far better economic position than Japan. People are far happier than the robot workforce here. They don't have a massive crap-storm growing bigger by the day on their horizon (not by Japanese standards, at least). Japan is just digging it's hole deeper and deeper.
AgentX
This is utter nonsense!
Coconut H2O
Exactly. Shame on the heartless lot of you saying letting only 3 asylum seekers in is a good thing.
darknuts
Japan took one look at Germany and said "not us".
Leila26
Very smart, Japan!
Look not only at Europe but at the US and Canada.
Canada is now SORRY they were welcoming since they cannot afford to support the refugees.
Refugees get full welfare in the US. Enough is enough.
Wolfpack
There isn't really anything to be upset about. At least two Western countries, Germany and Canada, have stated that refugees are welcome. Any country that is concerned about security, integration of people from dissimilar cultures, and the cost in money and social dissonance need only refer these applicants to Germany and Canada. They will find good homes in these socially progressive and welcoming nations.
Blacklabel
There are plenty of countries that do accept refugees, Japan can choose to contribute to "the world" in other ways.
AgentX
Like the many developed countries that accept Japanese immigrants (that open Japanese businesses, and hold many Japanese cultural events)? That's not a complaint. That's just pointing out that it's not too hard to be a little tolerant toward cultural differences. Japan could maybe try it sometime...
TrevorPeace
@Leila26, Canada can and does afford true refugees, and our system of vetting them is far superior to Japan's, in fairness, compassion and truth. We're not an isolated little island nation like Japan that wants to stay that way. We're a lot more global in that perspective, and our society is equally as trouble-free, if not more so, than Japan's. All I need to do to really point that out is to encourage you to take a look at Japan's educational system, and compare that to Canada's. That's where intolerance begins, and it doesn't begin in Canada's children.
Leila26
TREVOR - you need to go look at the Rebel series of videos on YouTube. They are reporters who don't feel kindly to newcomers at all. Perhaps you deny they exist?
And by the way, there are videos of Justin Trudeau explaining that they only want legal immigrants.
They are putting the illegals in stadiums for heaven's sake.
Canada has only 35 million people and Japan has far more. I guess you don't pay attention to statistics.
But even Canada is not welcoming the refugees and illegals at this time.
Aly Rustom
AgentX
Exactly.
100% on the money. And when they do collapse and finally start to want to bring people here, no one will want to come. LOL.
Coconut, people who have no compassion for their fellow human beings can hardly be counted on to feel shame.
Excellent excellent post Trevor! Best one so far this week. My wife and I took our son to Vancouver this summer where most of my family currently resides. I felt safer than I do in Japan. No evil stares because my wife is Japanese and I'm not. People get along marvelous over there. I'm half syrian, and I bumped into ALOT of them in vancouver. ALL of which had nothing but praise, gratitude, and appreciation for Canada. There is REAL WA there as opposed to the BS one here. That's why we are doing our best to move there. We want our son to grow up in a tolerant and multicultural society.
They are right 100%. And not only is their record abysmal, so is their future.
meanwhile in other news...
Japanese companies struggle to hire, retain staff as labor shortage worsens
You made your bed. Now SLEEP in it.
Blacklabel
You have to be realistic here. Non Japanese speaking refugees how are they going to work, live and perform basic functions here? People who been here for a decade and speak Japanese still have those issues.
let the refugees go somewhere they have half a chance of being successful and productive members of society.
inkochi
In Japan, no surprises there.
So, they make a change allowing refugee-status applicants to work for 6 months: OK, fair enough - there is a labour shortage, and letting people get money means that the government does not spend millions of yen per applicant for their welfare (unlike in Australia where refugees or whatever they are arriving by boat are paid for by Australian taxpayers to languish for years in off-shore centers. Can't understand whey they can't be kept more cheaply in Australia where the vast majority of refugee-status applicants arriving by plane are kept).
Then the presumably xenophobic aspect kicks in: for whatever reason applications are, sort of, 99% rejected.
I think there is a need for some more information, such as whether Japan is party to the UN High Commission for Refugees resettlement programs. If so, then a proportion of refused applicants could be moved on to third countries, which means that the amoral aspect of the refugee application-refusal issue dissipates a bit.
Still pretty distasteful.
Aly Rustom
So just because there are a few racists in Canada that should mean that all of Canada doesn't welcome immigrants? There are racists in every society, but the track record between Canada and Japan is very stark indeed.
Of course he wants legal immigrants! Who the HELL wants illegal immigrants??
Really? Where is that? Got a link?
NOBODY welcomes illegals at ANY TIME. Canada has welcomed over 48,000 refugees and continues to do so. Please back up any comments with facts and links. Canada is also a very tolerant society which has integrated its refugees well. This very fact completely nulls the BS vitrol we keep hearing about refugees being a bane.
Toasted Heretic
According to whom? Links, people, please.
3 is pretty poor. I'd rather see more genuine refugees and less xenephobes who bring nothing to Japan but their poisonous attitudes, ruining it for the rest of us.
kyushubill
Aly Rustom: "Japanese companies struggle to hire, retain staff as labor shortage worsens
You made your bed. Now SLEEP in it."
AI and automation are going to take care of this problem soon. No need to depend on refugee labor to solve this. So, there is no bed made or to sleep in.
So, who, where, when, how will these refugees be taught Japanese (reading and speaking) to work in the Japanese labor market to begin with. Oh, let me guess THEY'LL BE ON WELFARE until then. No thanks. AI and automation are far more cheaper in the long run.
AgentX
IF that were to happen, that just means more erosion of salaries and human rights here. Something that Japan Inc. has repeatedly proved they don't mind bringing about...
The last remaining traces of compassion (and even passion) are quickly leaving this country. I have to wonder if it will close its borders again in times to come.
Aly Rustom
Yeah- tell that to SUKIYA which had to close TONS of shops due to lack of staff.
Also, AI and automation won't pay taxes. And while automation can solve SOME of the problems MOST service industries NEED human beings.
Who is teaching the English teachers in Japan Japanese? Should we get rid of them? PLUS most of the non english speakers who already live in Japan speak much better Japanese than your average ENGLISH TEACHER here.
So I guess most of the English teachers here are on welfare?
Maybe we can do the same with english teaching in Japan and snuff that lot out too..?
Then Japan can return to the EDO period!
Good plan
Very true.
That's what I'm wondering. That's why we are trying hard to get to Canada. I don't want to wait and find out
bosphorus
Japan is not so great country for emigration due to its low wages and xenophobic island mentality. If I was a refugee, I would much prefer Canada, Australia or Brazil, at least I would have a future in these countries, not as a slave, and the actual ability to naturalize.
Leila26
Japan wants to protect it's own beautiful culture. That is admirable!
A culture can be watered down but once watered down, it can never return to the comforting strength it once had.
Culture is important!
Culture gives strength and is worth the trade-offs.
Good for Japan - money is not everything!
smithinjapan
I love that this is directly below the article about companies and government complaining about labor shortages!
dcog9065
If it's really asylum they are wanting, there are 200+ other options around the world
Leila26
Government employees of course want more workers, but is their work really needed?
Many sit in meetings all week.
People can help themselves more effectively and with less taxes involved. Government not needed.
kawabegawa198
Okay. So how exactly is a family (it's never a single person, have you noticed?) of refugees from, say Syria, going to produce a net benefit for the country of Japan? Can't speak the language, for one. I can really imagine the average Japanese person waiting patiently while the refugee tries to count out the change at a 7/11, or find exactly which packet of cigarettes Taro is wanting.
TigersTokyoDome
There are some real idiotic comments on here. I'm not sure which is more disgraceful - that only 3 applications were granted or that only 8,561 felt it worth applying. Even with a country paranoid about a mixed culture and terrorism, Japan could easily absorb 3,000 correct applicants.
Exactly.
seadog538
It seems that to be accepted as a Refugee in Japan you need to prove beyond all doubt that you are genuinely a Refugee as defined in the Refugee Convention. Is that so unreasonable?
Toasted Heretic
Where do you get the idea that it's always a family? Do you actually know any Syrians? Outside of Japan I knew Syrian barbers, fast food outlet owners, landlords, minicab drivers - all learned the local language pretty fast and some could already speak it before they came to that country. And they all contribute.
Well, Taro never had a problem with yours truly when I squinted to see the difference between a 5 yen piece and a 50 yen piece.
Try again.
runner3
The posters that are saying that Canada isn't accepting refugees at this time is a complete and utter nonsense. And so is the part about not being able to support themselves. Most are working in fact we have a labour shortage too but Canada is doing something about it and at the same time being compassionate. Shame on Japan
Jonorth
Of course you can't let everybody in and the applicants need to be checked. But only 3 is just ridiculous, there's is absolutely no good reason for that. I live in one of those European countries, which has apparently been "wrecked" by immigrants according to some people here, and I'm doing fine. I don't feel unsafe and I don't feel my culture has been washed away. Which is honestly nonsense. If you think you'll lose you're culture by sharing space with other people, it probably wasn't so strong to begin with. And come on, it's not like Japanese culture was established in seclusion. Japan has had plenty of interaction with other countries through the years, contributing to the formation of culture.
Aly Rustom
Jonorth- Another Excellent post. Hat off to you and to Heretic
paradoxbox
0.03% acceptance rate.
Does that even seem remotely close to being acceptable to anyone?
What are all those people at immigration doing? What is their purpose? Why are we being taxed to pay for their salaries if the acceptance rate is so unbelievably low?
Farce. If they're going to keep the rate that low they should slash the entire department completely and stop wasting our tax money.
Gobshite
I would usually agree with that, but considering the number of 25 year old child refugees that Europe has let in, it's a wise decision. Let's face it, Europe has far more experience judging these things, and look at the mess there
Toasted Heretic
So, the wars that the US wage with the help of allies in Europe - the consequences being refugees - what then?
Bomb them to bits under the pretext that this is saving them from unimagineable horrors and then just leaving them to endure the aftermath.
Did the "mess" in Europe affect you directly when you lived there?
Moderator
Readers, please stay on topic.
Toasted Heretic
Back on topic; Japan has been good to me and I love it (if one can actually "love" a country) to bits. Because I am enamoured with the place, I feel saddened when I read a news story like this.
3 refugees is a poor showing and Japan's culture is so strong ... nothing is going to dilute or water it down. I don't know many cultures that have been, by refugees. Although, there are arguments to be had for the colonisations of other countries by Europeans and their empires but that's another debate.
I'm afraid I must agree with this description. It doesn't mean that I love the country any less. It's just that when you see injustice (wherever you happen to live) you want to register your disapproval. And I am.
If only we could embrace the similarities between our fellow peoples, rather than play up differences and cherry pick negative and destructive examples in order to foment division.
jiji_bisous
this is not an opinion either way on whether or not Japan should accept refugees… but if the government wants no refugees, why not say so, give up the omote stance, re-direct the man-hours and money to some positive action for Japanese people… why always the ちゅうとはんぱ approach to things? of course, we already know the answers to these questions, but… be nice to see someone break the pattern for once. not holding my breath.
goldorak
@bosphorus, you see, that's exactly what host nations do NOT want to hear i.e refugees or potential refugees talking $ even before setting foot in the country. A sense of entitlement will never help someone integrate and fit into a new country.
pacint
My country(Europe) also deals a lot with refugees, it can take years to verify an application, so many can't reside and work while their application is processed.
Most don't get approval and are reported back home.
Recent trend seems that asylum seekers end up going home on holiday while waiting for approval. Huh, same country you claim asylum from?
We have had hundreds of applications cancelled because they went home to check on family or their property.
Good that Japan is strict. Most problems are caused by fake refugees and asylum seekers.
Toasted Heretic
And not governments seeking to divide people. Nor people born and bred in the EU. Nope, they never cause any problems, whatsoever.
Links?
Jimizo
Three is pathetic. However, any Japanese party who vowed to increase this number into anything approaching European levels would be comitting political suicide.
I think Paradoxbox pretty much nailed it. I'd go as far as saying a political party which promised to end the waste of tax this department is and just have a zero refugee policy would strike a chord. Pulling out of its international legal obligations might lead to a few scathing articles in the international press but nothing really damaging.
I mean, 3 or 0? Save the tax.
pacint
Fit legal status is not important as I didn't apply for refugee, but I do approve of true and verified refugees and asylum seekers.
I don't accept economic migrants that try to sneak in as refugees, they can apply the same way me and other legal immigrants did.
Clear now? BTW, I entered here on a spouse visa and later applied for PR.
Toasted Heretic
Ah but. Bit of a difference to "Most problems are caused by fake refugees and asylum seekers."
I'd say there's a lot of fog over the who are the right people getting in. I do wonder, for example, how a minority of posters with their violent/fantasist/racist/misogynist views are regarded as better people than refugees.
Not including you in that unpleasant bunch, btw. I do try and read and digest your posts.
lostrune2
Tom Petty RIP could've helped with the refugee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFnOfpIJL0M
Toasted Heretic
Funnily enough, I was listening to that TP track the other day.
It's pretty certain that some of the returning posters (and always with this kind of topic) could also do with a bit of help.
I'm sure there's a reason for the hatred but it's still distressing to read.
pacint
Having worked in various countries I have worked with many people of all faiths, cultures, etc.
Never any disagreements or problems and all felt the same, recall watching the Gulf war on CNN with Muslims(in South Africa) who complained about their sons wanting to go and fight the Infidels. They got a swift hand to the back of the head and were told not to be stupid. Same office had orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Christians, Bhuddist, etc.
Growing up in multi-culturel/faith place helped. In the end all want the same out of life( good job/income, a home, peace, etc).
Never liked radicals or fanatics but those can be found anywhere.
Done for today.
Toasted Heretic
Yes. Unfortunately they can.
Which is why I wonder why a minority here (not you) seek to demonise them.
Same here. Take care.
Spooky1938
Good on ya Japan. Make sure you keep applying the tough standards.
Just a user
Yeh right, as if allowing refugees is the answer to that.
CaptDingleheimer
Three refugees is kind of ridiculous, but it's kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation for Japan.
Let's say they took in 300, or 3,000. Then we'd be reading stories about how the refugees can't find housing, nobody will hire them, their kids are bullied out of the schools, and the rest of it.
Let's face it- Japan ain't exactly the place for refugees.
M3M3M3
Logically, if Japan is wrongly turning away thousands of genuine refugees who face a serious risk of persecution in their home countries, it should be possible for NGOs like Amnesty and HRW to show us evidence of at least one of these failed asylum seekers being killed, tortured, disappeared or otherwise persecuted when Japan eventually deports them back to Turkey, Nepal, Bangladeshi, Iran, etc. The fact that they don't seem to be able to produce any evidence like this suggests that the Japanese authorities are actually making correct determinations when it comes to assessing these case (even if their numbers are small compared to lenient western nations). I'd love to hear a reasoned counter argument to this if one exists.
Kenny Furukawa
Good to know that Japan can secure its borders. Even though it's an island nation and there is no threat by land crossing or border crossings, by extreme vetting, they have made it possible to keep the populace pretty much safe, especially the seniors who are a big percentage of the overall population.
chugmagaga
Shame on you Japan. Many people are suffering from humanitarian crisis, not helping them is a crime against humanity.
Toasted Heretic
And how will seniors lives be threatened by refugees?
Do you not think that immigrants can actually look after elderly people? Like the NHS in the UK?
3 refugees. What frightens people so much?
pacint
Just like Poland, Hungary, etc who refuse refugees(they are obliged to accept a certain number) and who end up in other overburdened EU countries.
Toasted Heretic
Yes, there are a lot of Polish and Hungarians in the UK. And like any other people; the majority are decent and not troublemakers, racists etc. Although there are Polish neo-nazis in the UK; they are very much a tiny minority.
pacint
I am talking about the government not the population, read up on as it has gone to the EU courts.
Many east block members also don't follow EU rules.
But that is EU not Japan.
Toasted Heretic
Then they should be booted out. The states that refuse to follow the rules, that is, not the innocent migrants.
Luddite
I find your naive faith in technology solving all of Japan's problems rather touching. Stop believing this nonsense spoonfed to Japan on a daily basis.
As for the refugees, 3 is a pathetic number. I'd love to see the criteria Japan uses to establish whether a person is a refugee.
kannotomoya
➊Why y'all refrain from saying about rich countries of middle east which ignore refugees?
➋I know y'all don't know that If foreign trainees, tourists, and fraudulent refugees wishing to live in Japan are denied asylum applications after they are denied asylum applications, they will be able to stay until the next rejection of Japan.
➌There are few people allowed as refugees, but actually there are many refugee applicants who are illegally staying in Japan.
【Source】 http://www.moj.go.jp/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/nyuukokukanri03_00666.html
A Realist
"Refugee" is a world used very loosely. If you accept that anyone from any war-torn country is a refugee and is therefore welcome in your country, you could have millions of them. The vast majority of so-called refugees are people wanting a better life in a better country because their own country is a mess. I note that there have been no terrorist attacks by foreigners in Japan like there has been in other countries that have let in a lot of refugees.
pacint
A Realist.
Agree. Can I claim refugee status in the USA, etc because I would be better off living there than current place of residence.
Nope wouldn't fly.
kannotomoya
Why does a miserable terror attack occur in neither Hungary nor Poland?
Is the xenophobic island mentality worst?
Is the humanitarian best?
Is the multiculturalism best?
OK, you of idealism who criticizes Japan should join a refugee in your house first.
In Japan, foreigners from Korea took advantaging of confusion of the Korean War, visited Japan unlawfully, and the Korean race which continues receiving public assistance cooperated in the Japanese kidnapping incident.
A liberalist ignorant about Japan doesn't change the posture in which criticize whaling of traditional at will.
pacint
What is your point?
You reference issues/countries you are dead wrong on about and know nothing about.
AgentX
And this highlights the type of ignorance that has done so much to advance the problems that these nations are having.
You went in their and raised hell in Korea, colonized it and took advantage of it (much like the western antions have done in recent times in the middle east). You destabilized an entire country, enlisted its men, imprisoned many of them (etc...).
And then you have the audacity to complain about the fallout. Not only that, but instead of finding it in your heart to understand their plight and make amends (AKA taking responsibility), you then paint the 'Korean race' (highlighting how you seem to think you have some type of racial superiority, despite being largely the same DNA, and actually having migrated from Korea and China only a few thousand years ago) as fraudulent, law-breaking kidnappers.
Does your ignorance know no bounds?
pacint
Ahem, Japan, USA, and most countries are part of the UN. As the Un includes most nations on earth.
We are all part of it for better or worse.
Jonathan Prin
Why 3 and not 4 ?
If they could start by loosening visas about normal foreigners who can bring good...
I really also find that number terribly low in comparison to the foreign scum you can see in some Tokyo areas.
michaelqtodd
I spent 43 days living with refugee applicants and others in an immigration detention center. It was pathetic watching their hope of being given citizenship here despite the massive odds against them. With just a few a year being allowed Japan would be doing everyone a service by just saying that Japan does not accept refugees. They would save themselves so much time and money and the refugee applicants would go to places where they have a reasonable chance.
WA4TKG
Imagine THAT !, and not a SINGLE "Terrorist" incident has been recorded (to date).
Who would FIGURE ?
OssanAmerica
Good for Japan that they are being overly cautious. This is one area that many other developed countries may want to study. What obligation does Japan have to accept refugees? Because other nations have done so?
They are looking to keep it that way.
Agree. Why don't they do that to start with?
AgentX
It's a moral, humanitarian obligation. Or, are you saying it's OK to be immoral and inhumane?
safinator
To me this kind of sums up the country. Everything is open to interpretation but common sense tells us why even have a policy if the outcome every year is 3 accepts per 8k or 10k or whatever the number maybe. Hard line stance - hard to figure out what they do or don't want !