Japan’s Justice Ministry said it received a record 7,586 asylum applications in 2015, up 50 percent compared to the year before…but only accepted 27 refugees including 6 from Afghanistan, 3 from Syria, 3 Ethiopians, and 3 Sri Lankans.
al-Jazeera (h/t Maurice) Japan is the world’s third largest economy and runs the tightest refugee recognition system among industrialised economies. The country has long been nervous about an influx of refugees into its homogeneous society and has tightly restricted the number it accepts.
The ministry said number of refugees accepted last year was a jump from 11 in 2014 and six in 2013. Human rights activists, lawyers and migrant communities in Japan have complained for years about harsh treatment by immigration officials and about conditions at detention centres.
In 2014, it granted refugee status to just 11 people, out of 5,000 applicants.
Saori Fujita, an official for the Immigration Bureau of Japan, was quoted by the Japan Times website as saying that 2015’s increase was due to a rise in the number of Indonesian Muslim applicants. Fujita said 17 Indonesians applied in 2014, compared to 969 last year.
The Japan Association for Refugees said despite the progress in recent years, more applicants should be accepted. “We hope that (Japan) will hold discussions with UNHCR and NGOs and swiftly consider measures to certify refugees in line with international standards,” it said.
Japan’s Refugee Recognition Act does not include war refugees in its narrow interpretation of the International Refugee Convention.
On Wednesday, Japan’s parliament approved $350m in humanitarian aid for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, which is to complement a $810m package approved last year, according to Deutsche Welle.
Asked by reporters at the UN General Assembly last September whether Japan would join other countries in accepting Syrian refugees, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe replied that his country needed to boost its own workforce first by empowering more women and older people to work.
“As an issue of demography, I would say that before accepting immigrants or refugees, we need to have more activities by women, by elderly people and we must raise [the] birthrate,” he said, according to the official translation of his comments.
“There are many things that we should do before accepting immigrants.”
But for those who are under the mistaken impression that Japan has no Muslims, think again, there are at least 10,000+ Muslims living in Japan, as you can see by the large mosques, Muslim associations, and Islamic schools that are there.
well considering Japan has a population of well over 100 million, 10,000 moslems is a containable number. Australia has only 23 million people, but yet we have over 500,000 moslems. It sickens me.
I wish Japan didn’t have a Moslem population or any Mosques. I thought they had zero Moslems and was going to move there when Australia became overrun with them.
Perhaps the world can learn from japan , the only country not buying the incessant violin pkaying ,guilt pointing and pc bullshit.
if japan is for the japanese , why cant governments understand that its citizens matter more than political corrrectness or image?
Typical that the media never mentions why they aren’t going or aren’t allowed in other Arab countries. Can’t wait for the idiot white kids start laying in the street stating Muslims lives matter. Everytime I think of them, I think of that picture of the three stupid German girls holding the “welcome refugees” sign. Won’t be long…
Twisted Truth, I know the pic you’re talking about. But I’m going to give those girls the benefit of IGNORANCE, and not stupidity. I will admit, that stupidity does play its part, as in today’s internet world, they should have known what Sweden and France and Britain have gone through.
But I’ll damn sure bet you, that those girls are not ignorant now. And I’ll bet they’re taking self-defense precautions. IF NOT, then indeed, STUPIDITY does apply.
TwistedTruth, what a fitting name. Dont you know that many Arab nations have taken in many refugees? Of course you dont 🙂
None of the oil-rich Arab Gulf nations have. Only Turkey and Jordan for the most part.
Your very cultural existance is under threat the more you give in to the demands of the Moslem scum which are worming their way like a cancerous disease through Western society. New World Order is what the UN is pushing onto the West but not Arab countries. If a Moslem plays up in an Arab country they are immediately deported with no questions asked!!! This is why they wont go there. Welfare for Moslems is much easier coming from Western governments hungry for more political clout and votes!!! Good onya Japan and keep the Muzzrats out of your country once and for all!!!! Don’t let PC sway your better judgement!!!!! The West is screwed now so don’t lose your conviction and stand strong and proud for your citizens!!!
Keep Japan for the Japanese.
Meanwhile in the West, our leaders are busy wetting their pants and bending over to recieve the full force of Islam in every aspect of life (and we know how well that tactic is working).
Japan has always been more “ethno centric ” than most countries. They need to show the world how you accept 27 moslems out of 7,0000, ! ! ! ! That’s the model that Europe and the US needs to follow. ! ! !
Japan ought to ban Islam while it is still politically possible to do so. The religion of terrorism should be banned everywhere. All Muslim government should be removed with military force and replaced with Tajikistan type governments that will stamp out Islam.
Japan knows what is going on and should continue to resist the stampede and stay firm in rebellion against what is wrong.
Thank you so much comments for Japan.I say appreciate from Japan.
I’m really wishing Western people will refuse muslim immigrant and refugee jihadist.
I feel even Japan is not perfect society to block them cause rapid aging society and mass-capitalism,decreasing population.
We must fight in this hard age for save my country.Politics is more important than economy.
And about Europe.
I feel 100 times better than Western Europe.. I feel sorry to tell for European.
I think far-right regime should appear in Europe and vote more.
Europe is going really wrong.
I’m wishing so much to deal this problem by far right regime.
I like Front National. Many people are sympathize for Europeam people against muslim immigration problem.
Ryochi-san, 遠ぞ よろしく
A lot of my readers would like to move to Japan,knowing you won’t allow yourselves to be flooded with Muslims.
Where in Japan are you? I spent 2 years in Tokyo, one at Waseda University and one working there. I love Japan and miss it very much.
私たちはあなたをここに持っていることを光栄に思っています
I’m in Hiroshima,it is 10th scale local city in Japan.Found muslim inhabitant is so difficult in here.So we have no chance how dangerous about muslims while living in here.
But we have an internet!! It is very useful for spread information.
We are realizing what’s happen in Europe with some bad radical muslims by internet information media like youtube,board,news site.
In several years ago,mostly Japanese nationalistic people hate Korean and Chinese,they seems not to realize Muslim immigration problem.
It was also me too.I was too focus about China and Korea and hate them too.
Many youtube user made good video to understand about how much dangerous spreading Sharia law because they denying democracy and liberty and intorelence for other culture.
This is good news that people who knowing about muslim immigration problem are increasing and I can find many people knowing it now.
I feel Chinese people are better than muslims now.We should learn from Chinese.
They know how to deal with muslims.Muslim no-go zone area in Europe should replacement to China town or Hindu town.xD
Arabian Muslims are worse people in the world.
Ryoichi, I was very aware of the dislike many Japanese have for Koreans. I lived with a Japanese family there and the father hated them. I never knew why though. Didn’t realize many felt the same about Chinese. But today all those hostilities pale in comparison to the threat to everyone that Islam poses.
I have done several stories about Japan and the Muslim issue. Take a look: http://www.barenakedislam.com/?s=%22Japan%22&submit=Search
Japan knows best.
The Japanese are not stupid. The plan to breed out the rest of the world into brown is not what the Japanese want. Smart.
The rest of the world is nuts and listening to the deranged lefties telling them, that the Mohommedists are harmless. Wake me when we get to HOGWARTS!
ICE
Like as if all Muslims are brown. You appear to be a fool
Do not take in any of the muslum vermin. A response would be, ‘Why do the 6 richest muslum controlled countries of saudi and so on, take in 0 muslum terrorists?
It would be a tragic mistake if Japan would let in any more Muslims, no matter who or what they are.
I have read the Qur’an – from cover to cover – and it is horrifying to say the least – especially to their treatment of women. This book should be required reading by everyone in the world. Only then, once the real TRUTH is out, will Islam be rejected for the false “religion of peace” as it professes to be.
Japan – PLEASE keep Muslims out of Japan.
Lawrence Klepinger
I always said that Asians are Master-Race! They don’t take $hit from inbreeds and preserve civilized culture (well, except for certain inferior countries like Thailand). And oh boy, inbreeds wouldn’t want to wake up Shinto/Zen Buddhist Japan unless they are stupid, and damn, they are stupid enough!
I disagree with your comments on Thailand. I’ve been there many times. Thailand is for Thais. I wish our countries were more like that. Canada for Canadians. America for Americans. Even Europe for Europeans. I’ve heard some great stories on how the Thai government deals with muslim ‘asylum’seekers. All those crocodiles need to be fed. Hahaha.
Japan’s big mistake, they caved and accepted 27.
They’ll marry the Japanese women 5 or 6 at a time and that 27 will beget 2,700 in one year’s time and 27,000 in under 5 years.
I think it’s quite OBVIOUS, that, UNLIKE the immigrants of “old”, who went to a country because they liked what the country represented, and wanted to be a part of it, these “immigrants, refugees” want to CHANGE the countries they’re entering. The REASON seems pretty clear. While Japan apparently has some liberal, leftist citizens, thankfully for them, there are more who “get it”. It scares me to think what, if ANYTHING, it will take for the rest of the world to WAKE UP, before it’s TOO LATE!!
Oh no. The Japanese people I have met just wouldn’t cope at all with moslem thugs.
If you even begin to take in moslems, you are doomed. Thin end of a very giant wedge.
Japan has set an example of resisting mudslime invaders that all nations that want to remain sovereign should copy or exceed. Now, they need to work on excising the islime cancer that is currently infecting their islands.
Just enough to poison the miso …
Don’t listen to the PC crowd, media and our candy-ass world leaders Japan.
The Japanese have historically been an insular society, both literally (they are an island nation) and figuratively. The Japanese have always been wary of foreigners and are fiercely protective of their identity and culture. The Japanese word “Gaijin” which means “alien” or “foreigner” has somewhat of a negative connotation. The Japanese characteristically are very polite, even to foreigners, but that politeness is guarded. And they don’t take to kindly to outsiders meddling in their country and society. They make take ideas and innovations from foreign cultures and societies, but they make them into something that is palatable and suitable for them.
Islam certainly does not agree with Japan and Japanese culture. The Japanese certainly see what is going on throughout the world.
And I don’t blame the Japanese. Islam and the jihad and terrorism that comes with it is certainly not something they want to import. People often look down upon the Japanese, but the Japanese are smart. They see what is going on.
I lived in Japan for 2 years. It is nearly impossible for a gaijin to get Japanese citizenship or the eqivalent of a green card. Even foreigners married to Japanese have a hard time.
I’ve know Japanese who’ve lived in Japan for many years, there are many ‘gaijin’ who have become Japanese.
It’s very rare that a gaijin can get Japanese citizenship. I’ve lived there, have you?
Fuck you Muslim pests! Come on Japan, it’s time to show these scums what your samurais & ninjas were & what they could do!
It has nothing to do with refugees or asylum seekers!!!! These muslims ha8ve only ONE objective…. World Domination!!!!
Muslims will lie and deceive the “infidels” in the name of allah (aka Satan) and their pedophile mohammad to spread islam and take over the world!!!
The quaran instructs ALL muslims to convert or kill the infidels!!!!
For once a nation does the right thing by its people, and is coming under flak! The current Muslim population in Japan by themselves, even though they are small in number, have already been doing the ‘muslim’ things to the nation, and causing them enough trouble. What shocks me is that Japan would even take in the few that they did from Syria and Afghanistan! Why cant these invaders seek out an islamic nation to torment instead?
Was just a matter of time.
The reason why theyre not bashing rich arab countries is simple, they give a lot of money to politicians so they push pro islam propaganda and of course oil
Any muslim that attacks the police should be shot on the spot.
Well this proves that the Japanese are smarter than us.
Kick them out of your country. They will as everywhere.
Dear Japanese brothers and sisters, You are already in danger from the Muslims you allowed to enter your country.
Please continue to stand strong and keep PROTECTING your people.
NO MUSLIMS. Why should your innocent people suffer?
The government of Japan is proven more intelligent and mature than that of the European Union. But, I have always felt that the Japanese were an Intellectually Elite nation – They almost have to be. Look at the Calligraphic nature of their language~!
That said, intelligence does not always indicate the level of maturity of an individual or a nation, but in this case the two go hand in hand. That maturity however, was hard won, and painfully so~!
Japan should never allow any Moslems in. Otherwise they will end up like Sweden, Germany & France.
Stay strong, Japan. Just say no.
Hey Japan, that’s 27 rapefugees too many!