Japan Considers Establishing 'Quasi-Refugee' System... Taking Ukrainian Evacuees into Account

Refugee-Like Protection Now Possible Under the Quasi-Refugee System

On the 5th, a Japanese government aircraft carrying Ukrainian refugees landed at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's Foreign Minister, who was dispatched to Poland on the 1st as a special envoy of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, returned home on the same day with 20 Ukrainian refugees. (Photo by AP Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The Japanese government is reportedly considering the establishment of a 'quasi-refugee' system for displaced persons from conflict areas.

Yomiuri Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun reported this on the 14th.

If the quasi-refugee system is implemented, it will allow protection equivalent to that of refugees. It is interpreted as a consideration for accepting Ukrainian displaced persons who fled to various countries to escape Russia's invasion.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated at the House of Councillors plenary session the previous day, "In addition to reasons based on the Refugee Convention, the Ministry of Justice is reviewing a system to provide protection equivalent to that of refugees for those who may face persecution."

The Japanese government has accepted 524 Ukrainian displaced persons from the 2nd to the 9th of last month. However, their legal status remains unclear.

According to Yomiuri, if Ukrainian displaced persons are granted quasi-refugee status, they can stay in Japan for more than five years and enroll in the National Health Insurance, among other benefits.

Regarding this move by the Japanese government, Yomiuri explained, "It also intends to alleviate criticism of the current refugee recognition system, which recognizes very few people as (refugees)."