Maybe “annoyed” is too mild a word.
This story is not new to us. Japan is one of the few modern countries in the world actively working to keep Japan for the Japanese and the UNHCR and the international humanitarian industrial complex are riled up over it (again!), even as Japan is one of the most generous countries offering humanitarian relief to legitimate refugees housed in camps in the Middle East and Africa.
Most asylum-seekers reaching Japan are clearly economic migrants and are not trying to escape persecution.
From Japan Today (hat tip: sodiumpen):
TOKYO —
Japan accepted 11 asylum seekers out of a record 5,000 applications in 2014, Ministry of Justice data showed, drawing criticism from advocates and lawyers that the country is not doing enough to provide protection to refugees.
The number of asylum applications rose 53% from the previous year, while the refugee recognition rate was 0.2%, one of the lowest among industrialised economies.
“The low recognition rate is shameful,” said immigration lawyer Shogo Watanabe.
In 2013, Japan accepted six refugees, its lowest for 15 years.
A lack of planning for the protection and resettlement of refugees, as well as dysfunction in the system that processes asylum claims, was behind the low intake, said Mieko Ishikawa, director of Forum for Refugees Japan.
Unfortunately Germany and the US have a death wish!
Germany and the United States were the largest destinations for asylum seekers in 2013, receiving 109,580 and 88,360 applications respectively, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees data shows.
Wannabee workers come to Japan and claim asylum
“Most people aren’t coming for political reasons. In countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka, many people think they can come to Japan to work,” said Hiroshi Kimizuka, director of refugee recognition at the Ministry of Justice.
The article identifies one of the complainers as Brian Barbour of the Japan Association of Refugees. Doesn’t sound like a Japanese name to me, are there western open borders agitators working there?
Unfortunately, I am going away for a few days and have to dash in just a little bit so I can’t dig into Mr. Barbour’s resume or the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network. If any readers do find out more about him, send links to this post while I’m away.
Our Japan archive is here.