Humanitarian Issues of Immigration in Japan: From Historical Background to Current Policies

Dec 8, 2023

This podcast explores Japan's strict immigration laws, the mistreatment of non-ethnic Japanese residents, and the difficulties faced by foreign nationals seeking employment and asylum. The researchers discuss the historical background and current state of immigration policies, highlighting the lack of humanitarian consideration by the Japanese state. They also touch on topics such as the treatment of undocumented residents, reforms to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, transparency issues in immigration services, hate speech, and the exploration of humanitarian issues through a documentary film.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Japan's Immigration Policy and Treatment of Undocumented Residents

01:41 • 15min

Reforms to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in Japan

16:49 • 3min

Treatment of Ukrainian immigrants, transparency issues in immigration services, and hate speech in Japan

19:44 • 4min

Exploring Humanitarian Issues of Immigration in Japan: A Film Perspective

24:12 • 3min

Japan has historically maintained extended periods of isolationist policies and continues to uphold some of the strictest immigration laws in the world today. The country has also long had a tumultuous relationship with non-ethnic Japanese residents, including Taiwanese and Korean nationals who were first forced to become Japanese citizens under imperialist rule, only to be deprived of their statuses after Japan formally lost its colonies. More recently, foreign nationals seeking employment and residency have been effectively disallowed from acquiring long-term working visas, while many others have unsuccessfully sought asylum, with tragic consequences.

Listen to Dr. Sara Park and Dr. Yoko Demelius discuss the historical background and current developments that have shaped the current state of immigration policies in Japan. While difficulties faced by the diverse group of non-ethnic Japanese immigrants and residents vary, the researchers make clear that they are treated with a persistent and pervasive lack of humanitarian consideration by the Japanese state.

Dr. Yoko Demelius is a senior researcher at the Centre for East Asian Studies at the University of Turku. Dr. Sara Park is a university lecturer at the Department of Cultures in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Helsinki.

The film mentioned in the episode is “We are Humans!” (2022) directed by Ko Chan-yoo.

The Nordic Asia Podcast is a collaboration sharing expertise on Asia across the Nordic region, brought to you by the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS) based at the University of Copenhagen, along with our academic partners: the Centre for East Asian Studies at the University of Turku, and Asianettverket at the University of Oslo.

We aim to produce timely, topical and well-edited discussions of new research and developments about Asia.

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