Japan eyes 'quasi-refugee' status for people fleeing conflicts

Apr 17, 2022 | News On Japan

PM Kishida says envisioned system would not discriminate against certain countries

Apr 17, 2022 (Nikkei) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday the government is considering creating a more loosely defined refugee category to accept people fleeing conflicts in light of the humanitarian crisis stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine.

"The Justice Ministry is considering a system for accepting people as refugee equivalents from a humanitarian standpoint even if they do not fall under" the 1951 refugee convention, Kishida said at a meeting in Niigata.

The prime minister stressed the envisioned system would not discriminate against certain countries, adding that Japan will strive to do its work in accordance with the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Japan has accepted more than 500 evacuees fleeing the war in Ukraine since it began in late February.

Heavy Snow Blankets Northern Japan

A powerful cold air mass brought the lowest temperatures of the season to much of Japan on Tuesday, November 10, with Hokkaido recording a nationwide seasonal low of minus 11.8 degrees Celsius, heavy snowfall covering northern communities, and Tokyo experiencing midwinter conditions as temperatures fell sharply across the country.

Odakyu Unveils New Romancecar With Giant Circular Windows

Odakyu Electric Railway unveiled images of its next-generation Romancecar limited express train on November 10, revealing a striking blue-green design featuring enormous circular windows that will allow passengers to enjoy panoramic views from ceiling to floor when the new trains enter service in March 2029.

Typhoon No. 32 Approaches Japan Islands With Strong Winds and High Waves

As of 3 a.m. on November 10, Typhoon No. 32 was moving northeast over waters south of Japan, with the powerful storm expected to approach the Ogasawara Islands late Tuesday through Wednesday morning, November 11, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and waves exceeding 6 meters in some areas.

270-Kilogram Bear Killed in Hokkaido After Repeated Farm Attacks

A male bear weighing approximately 270 kilograms was killed by hunters in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, on November 8th after being caught in a box trap, with local hunters suspecting it was responsible for a series of attacks on a nearby poultry farm that left more than 100 chickens and ducks dead since August.

Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Shakes Central Japan

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early on November 8th, registering an upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in Aichi Prefecture and injuring at least 21 people, while damaging buildings and disrupting Shinkansen and conventional railway services across the region.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Emperor Presents Grand Cordon to Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda

Emperor Naruhito presented prestigious Grand Cordon decorations to Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda and other recipients of Japan's autumn honors at a ceremony held at the Imperial Palace on November 10th, recognizing their longstanding contributions to the country and society.

Yakuza Arrested for Eighth Time Over Cambodia Scam

A 26-year-old yakuza member suspected of sending young women he met in Tokyo's Kabukicho entertainment district to Cambodia to work as telephone scammers has been arrested for the eighth time, this time on suspicion of conspiring with two women to defraud a man in his 30s of 9.5 million yen.

Chinese National Arrested Over Fake Mobile Base Station in Tokyo

A 31-year-old Chinese national has been arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of operating an illegal mobile phone base station that forced more than 10,000 smartphones onto a 2G network in less than two hours, allowing phishing messages to be sent to unsuspecting users in busy shopping districts including Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya.

270-Kilogram Bear Killed in Hokkaido After Repeated Farm Attacks

Princess Aiko Attends Event Supporting Crime Victims

Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, attended an event in Tokyo aimed at raising awareness and encouraging support for crime victims and their families, becoming the first member of the Imperial Family to participate in the gathering.

Seven-Year-Old Taken Into Custody Over Shorinji Racing

Police across Japan are struggling to contain a rapidly spreading social media trend known as "Shorinji Racing," in which children and teenagers shout "Shorinji" outside police stations and police boxes before running away, with Osaka police recording approximately 280 related incidents and taking around 50 minors aged between 7 and 16 into protective custody or questioning them.

350-Year-Old Deer Antler-Cutting Tradition Held in Nara Park

A traditional deer antler-cutting ceremony dating back some 350 years was held at Nara Park, where handlers chased and captured male deer before carefully removing their antlers to prevent injuries to visitors during the autumn mating season.

Man Charged With Stealing 451 Shoe Insoles

A 35-year-old unemployed man has been indicted in Toyama Prefecture on November 6 for allegedly breaking into a junior high school and stealing insoles from students' indoor shoes, with police seizing 451 insoles from his home and investigating suspected thefts at more than 30 schools across the prefecture.

< 2 3 4 5 >