Last updated: December 2007

Japan Detention Profile

Migration Phenomenon

Japan is a labor-importing country and a country of destination for asylum seekers. Migration flows into Japan increased dramatically in the 1980s and gradually decreased in the 1990s following an economic recession. This increased migration included irregular migration and the migration of Asian women into Japan’s sex industry. The high demand for sex workers made Japan the key destination country for trafficked women. It also increased the potential of abuse of Japan’s “entertainer” visa policy (Human Rights Watch 2000; Cameroon 2003; van Arsdol 2002).

As of January 1, 2006, it was estimated that there were 193,745 irregular foreign residents in Japan. In 2005, the number of undocumented workers was 45,935, of whom 19,703 were female. Most of the undocumented workers came from China, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia (Immigration Bureau 2006).

No official figures are available regarding trafficked women, but it is estimated that as many as 100,000 foreign women are trafficked into Japan every year (Lee 2005). The sex industry, in which trafficked women are often employed, is considered part of the entertainment industry. Reports suggest that the entertainer visa category has been used for trafficking women into Japan for sexual exploitation. While a disproportionate number of entertainer visas have been issued to Filipino women (around 60 percent), there have been reports that of the 40,000 Filipino women who enter Japan yearly with such visas, many of them are trafficked. The majority of these women work in pubs as hostesses or are forced into prostitution (Cameron 2003; Lee 2005). A report from the Protection Project reveals that “more than 30,000 Thai women have been trafficked into Japan by yakuza gang.” Most of these women work in “Dating” bars, as hostesses, or as prostitutes (Protection Project 2003).

The flow of asylum seekers and refugees into Japan is a relatively recent phenomenon. The first substantial flows of refugees came from Indochina in the 1970s. Responding to international pressure, Japan adopted a Comprehensive Plan of Action as the policy guideline to admit Indochinese refugees. Through this “political solution,” 10,941 Indochinese refugees were admitted in Japan from 1978 to 2002 (Dean 2006; Kaneko 2003).

In October 2003, Japan signed a Readmission Agreement with China. Under this agreement, undocumented Chinese nationals found on vessels intercepted by the Japanese Coast Guard will be returned to China. Because of this agreement, it is feared that individuals wishing to apply for asylum might not be able to reach Japan at all (Dean 2006).

The total number of asylum applications in Japan for 1982-2005 was 3,928. The applicants came from 40 countries, with the majority of asylum seekers coming from Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, and Turkey. The refugee recognition rate is extremely low; Japan recognized only 376 cases from 1982 to 2005. Those granted refugee status mostly come from Afghanistan, Iran, and Myanmar (Dean 2006; Immigration Bureau 2006).