On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Japan LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Japan country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Japan COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Japan.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Japan is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Japan’s international refugee legal framework primarily consists of its obligations under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Japan is a signatory to the Convention and Protocol, which provide the foundation for international refugee protection. These agreements define who qualifies as a refugee and outline the rights and protections they should receive, including non-refoulment, which prohibits returning refugees to a country where they may face persecution.
Japan’s national refugee legal framework is governed by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (ICRRA). The ICRRA defines a refugee and outlines the recognition process. It allows for temporary protection and includes the controversial practice of detaining asylum seekers. Japan has historically had a low recognition rate for refugees compared to other countries.
Legal aid organisations
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Address: 1-52-11, Yamato-cho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 165-0034
Tel: +81 36 38 30 688
Fax: +81 36 38 30 699
Email: info@frj.or.jp
Forum for Refugees Japan (FRJ) is a network of NGOs and faith-based organizations supporting refugees/asylum seekers in Japan. Through its members, FRJ provides consistent services including legal advice and social services to those in need of help. FRJ advocates for the right of refugees through the dialogue with the government and other stakeholders. UNHCR Japan office is a special member of FRJ and they work together in co-operation. FRJ is a member of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and International Detention Coalition (IDC).
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Daisan Shikakura Bldg., 6F, 1-7-10 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
Tel: 03 53 79 60 01
Toll-free number for refugees/asylum seekers: 01 20 47 74 72
Fax: 03 53 79 60 02
Contact(s): Brian Barbour, Eri Ishikawa
Email: barbour@refugee.or.jp, ishikawa@refugee.or.jp
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-17:00
The Japan Association for Refugees (“JAR”) provides information to refugees and asylum-seekers on refugee status determination procedures and other information for living in Japan. JAR provides legal and social assistance, advocates for the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers, advances policy analysis and information-exchange on refugee protection and related issues to build a more active and effictive network with concerned parties and Non-Governmental Organisations domestically, regionally, and internationally. Information for asylum-seekers is provided on our website in several different languages. JAR is an implementing partner of UNHCR, and is a member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN); Asia Refugee Legal Aid Network (ARLAN); and Southern Refugee Legal Aid Network (SRLAN).
UNHCR provides policy and technical support to the government of Japan on forced displacement and statelessness to further strengthen asylum institutions, improve conditions for refugee integration while advocating for Japan’s accession to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions.
UNHCR Japan continues to build strong partnerships with the national government, parliamentarians, civil society, academia, media, corporate sector and municipalities to promote awareness of refugee issues and statelessness and gain public support for UNHCR’s activities worldwide and within Japan.
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Tel: 81 35 31 24 826
Fax: 81 35 31 24 543
Email: jlnr@izumibashi-law.ne
Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) provides pro bono opportunities to lawyers and other legal personnel at law firms where they are able to utilize their professional and specific skills.
The training is open to lawyers (Japanese and Foreign Qualified), Gyosei-sushi, paralegals, and other relevant parties interested in providing legal assistance to refugee clients. Sessions are conducted in Japanese.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Address: 4F Little Komagome 3-2-7 Komagome, Toshima-Ward, Tokyo 170-0003
Email: ho-okawalawoffice@nifty.com
Contact Person: Mr Hidefumi Okawa, Attorney at Law
Established in March 2008, BRSA is devoted to the welfare of asylum seekers from Burma. Our mission is to advocate for all seekers staying in Japan.
BRSA prepares deposits and guarantors in order to secure the provisional release of detainees from detention centres. After release, they provide information to asylum seekers from Burma. Every day, they go to meet detainees in detention centres.
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Tel：03-3595-2487
IOM established its presence in Japan in 1981 in the context of the Indochinese refugee crisis, where IOM facilitated third-country on ward movement of refugees on temporary protection status in Japan. The third country is resettlement. IOM operations later expanded to include family reunification for Indochinese refugees resettled in Japan. IOM-Japan the relationship started to develop stronger aircraft papercrafts in the early 1990s when Japan joined other gove aircraft to support IOM’s emergency humanitarian airlift operation to return home hundreds of thousands of stranded migrant workers affected by the first Gulf War.
Today, IOM Tokyo has two functions: strengthen cooperation and partnership with Japan in support of displaced persons, vulnerable migrants and refugees worldwide; and support Japan in meeting its migration challenges. Japan is a major donor supporting the work of humanitarian agencies globally, and IOM is fortunate to be one of the recipients of Japan’s generosity. In Japan, IOM works with different Ministries and local partners in implementing: return and reintegration assistance to victims of trafficking, refugee resettlement, and assisted voluntary return and reintegration. And together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IOM co-organizes the annual “international workshop on acceptance and integration of foreign nationals in Japan.”
Website
Address: 1-1-3, Shiba Daimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8521
Phone: +81-3-3438-1311
Fax: +81-3-3435-8509
The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) is a special corporation established under the Japanese Red Cross Law of 1952. Its highest governing body is the Board of Representatives, which is composed of 223 members elected by the Boards of Councillors from among the Society for a term of three years. The Board of Representatives meets twice a year to elect a president, two vice-presidents, three auditors, and 61 governors (all for three-year terms) and to make decisions on important matters such as annual budgets, operational plans, and statute modifications. The Board of Governors’ primary responsibility is to assist the President with and deliberate on the management and execution of important activities and to approve matters referred to it in accordance with the Statutes. Since it usually only meets in its entirety three times a year, it may entrust its responsibilities to the Standing Board of Governors, which meets monthly, and is composed of not more than 13 members elected from among the Governors.
The JRCS has Her Majesty the Empress as Honorary President and other members of the Imperial Family as Honorary Vice-Presidents. Former Presidents may be given the title of President Emeritus. The President, while representing and chairing the Board’s meetings, assumes the function of top executive, supervising the Society’s day-to-day activities through its secretariat.
The JRCS’s National Headquarters is located in the heart of Tokyo and supports a nation-wide network of chapters throughout all 47 prefectures. Each chapter has a Board of Councillors composed of elected members who supervise its activities. Below the chapter level are branches formed in association with government administrative units at the city, ward, town, and village levels. Chapters and branches are usually headed by leaders of the community they represent and serve as the machinery for recruiting members and collecting membership fees and contributions.
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Address: 121-7 Ocean Totsuka-cho Bldg.3F, Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 244-0003
Fax: +81 (0)4 58 69 07 18
Email: officer@stateless-network.com
The Stateless Network is a non-profit organisation that offers support to stateless people seeking assistance and advocacy. It also organises educational and outreach opportunities including workshops and forums to promote social awareness about statelessness.
Japan LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Japan.
Japan COI
Find Japan Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023