Japan
Japan
UNHCR works to protect asylum space and foster refugee inclusion in Japan amid evolving political dynamics and legal reforms.

Key statistics
60,848
people were under UNHCR’s mandate in Japan in 2024, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons
31,293
are registered asylum-seekers by the end of 2024, mostly coming from Ukraine, making Japan a key country of asylum
479
people are stateless in Japan, highlighting protection needs for individuals without nationality
Japan is a State party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and one of UNHCR’s top donors globally. The country plays a vital role in global refugee protection.
In 2024, significant political and legislative shifts shaped the operating context, including a hung parliament and the full enforcement of the amended Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. While the new Complementary Protection system was a welcome step, concerns remain regarding provisions that may increase the risks of refoulement. Around 12,000 new asylum claims and over 1,000 CFP applications were recorded. The government also amended its guidelines to address statelessness more explicitly.
UNHCR provides policy and technical support to Japan to strengthen asylum systems, improve integration conditions, and advocate for accession to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions. Engagement with national authorities, parliamentarians, municipalities, civil society, academia, media, and the private sector remained central to promoting public support and accurate narratives around forced displacement. Initiatives such as JICA’s education pathways and discussions on labour mobility created new opportunities for refugee inclusion.
Japan as a donor
Find out more about the funds raised by the government and private sector in Japan to support UNHCR.
Latest updates
Population and financial overview
Japan
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Populations
Population types
Population types
Population by country
Population by country
Population by origin
Population by origin
Financial
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget by pillar
Budget by pillar
Budget by objective
Budget by objective
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
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Strategy - Country
Strategy
Office contact details
The UNHCR Representation in Japan
Street and mailing address:
Wesley Center 6-10-11, Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, 107-0062 Tokyo, Japan
Phone:
+81 33 499 2011
Fax:
+81 33 499 2272
Email:
[email protected]
Time zone:
GMT +9
Working hours
- Monday: 9:30 - 17:30
- Tuesday: 9:30 - 17:30
- Wednesday: 9:30 - 17:30
- Thursday: 9:30 - 17:30
- Friday: 9:30 - 17:30
- Saturday: closed
- Sunday: closed