Comments on the Number of Recognized Refugees in 2025 (Reiwa 7)

In response to the "Regarding the Number of Recognized Refugees in Reiwa 7" released today by the Immigration Services Agency (hereinafter referred to as the Immigration Agency), the certified NPO Refugee Support Network announces the following comments. The results clearly reflect the impact of the policy to reduce the number of irregular stayers announced in May last year, the so-called "Zero Plan."

While the number of recognized refugees was 187 (a decrease of 3 from the previous year), exceeding 100 for the fourth consecutive year, the situation where individuals who should be recognized as refugees are not continues to persist. Notably, cases determined as "clearly not applicable" without a full review surged from 80 in the previous year to 1,615. Furthermore, 59 individuals were repatriated while their applications were still pending. While we welcome the direction of speeding up the review process, it should be for the purpose of "promptly recognizing those who should be protected." We urge a more cautious approach to decisions of non-recognition.

Absence of Protection for Individuals from Myanmar

Following 2022-2024, individuals from Afghanistan continued to constitute over half of the recognized refugees (123 people). For Yemen, the number reached a record high of 26, which we view as a positive development. For other countries and regions, the number was limited to 38 individuals from nine countries/regions. A particular challenge is the treatment of individuals from Myanmar, who account for 13% (1,490 people) of refugee applicants.

• Number of recognized refugees: 9 (the lowest number since the military coup in 2021)

• Number of non-recognized refugees: 750 (total of first-instance review and appeal)

Many individuals from Myanmar are granted permission to reside based on humanitarian considerations or emergency evacuation measures, and they are not recognized with a stable legal status as refugees or those eligible for complementary protection. The situation faced even by individuals from Myanmar, where conflict and human rights violations are intensifying, encapsulates the challenges of Japan's refugee recognition system.

Non-Recognition of Those Who Qualify as Refugees

The number of non-recognized refugees in 2025 reached 12,636. Among these are individuals from regions rife with conflict and violence, those who have experienced detention and assault by the military, and those who have been imprisoned and subjected to sexual violence. Based on our organization's understanding alone, this group includes individuals who clearly appear to qualify as refugees.

Deterioration of Refugee Protection due to the "Zero Plan"

In May 2025, the government announced the "Zero Plan for Illegal Stayers for National Safety and Security," which involves specifying in advance cases that "claim circumstances that do not clearly fall under persecution under the Refugee Convention" (Type B cases). As a result, cases that previously accounted for around 1% of applicants have...