This recent video, especially Shogo Watanabe's contribution, explains very well the Japanese government's policy on refugee acceptance and reasons why the government rejects so many refugee application. Shogo Watanabe is a graduate of Chuo Law Faculty who has supported asylum seekers, refugees, and migrant workers in Japan in many legal cases. Foreign Corespondants Club, 2 Oct, 2015.
Japan rejected 99 percent of refugees in 2015 Justice ministry says it accepted 27 asylum seekers out of record 7,586 applications last year. Aljazeera 24 Jan 2016.
Japan recognizes only 27 refugees, despite rising numbers of applications The number of people who filed applications for asylum in 2015 jumped nearly 50 percent to a record 7,586, but the government recognized only 27 refugees, the Justice Ministry said Friday. Japan Times, Jan 23, 2016.
Refugee recognition is overly slow, opaque, panel tells Justice Ministry "Japan should clarify the criteria it uses to recognize refugees and set up safeguards to protect vulnerable applicants who fall short of the definition, an advisory panel told the Justice Ministry on Friday. Japan Times, 26 Dec, 2014.
Justice Ministry unveils eased refugee-recognition criteria but critics quick to cry foul "Japan will ease its rigid criteria for recognizing people as refugees while boosting efforts to detect bogus or unqualified applicants, the Justice Ministry said Tuesday in what it is touting as a systemic overhaul." This article looks at the new plans for refugee acceptance made by the Ministry of Justice, and criticisms of them, based on the report of the advisory panel explained in the story above. Japan Times, 15 Sep 2015.
Japan’s Closed-Door Refugee Policy Few nations are as generous as Japan in financing international relief efforts for persons displaced by war, civil strife, and natural disasters. Conversely, few nations are as miserly as Japan in providing physical asylum to refugees. Resolving this incongruity is a central issue for Japan in shaping a viable refugee policy. Nippon.com, 19 Mar 201
Application for Recognition of Refugee Status Immigration Bureau of Japan
For Those Who Wish to Apply for Refugee Status Explanation of the refugee application process in Japan and advice to those wishing to make an application. Mar 2013, Japan Association for Refugees
Minority Seeks Citizenship An article aboput the Rophingya community in Tatebayashi, Gunma. NHK World News, 9 Dec 2015
Student films documentary about Rohingya in Gunma Prefecture Japan Times, 2 Feb 2016The Rohingya: a stateless people trafficked across Southeast Asia This article explains the situation of the Rohingya people, a stateless minority regarded as one of the most persecuted minority groups, Japan Times, 12 May 2015.
System ‘failing asylum seekers’ This article is about the death of a Rohingya asylum seeker in the detention centre at Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau. The article mainly discusses inadequate health care of asylum seekers in detention not the situation of Rohingya asylum seekers. Japan Times, 2 Nov 2013. See also Detention center staff fail to aid dying asylum seeker: NGO. Japan Times, 17 Oct 2013.
Japan: Protect Burmese Rohingya Seeking Asylum Japan's new administration should protect Burmese Rohingya asylum seekers in Japan and press Burma to end abuses against the minority group, eight Japanese and international organizations said today. This article lists a number of groups supporting Rohingya people in Japan. Human Rights Watch, 29 Oct 2009.
Rohingyas in Japan Appealed to the US Government for their Serious Attention on the Rohingya Plight Rohingya Blogger, 21 Dec 2015.
Rohingya Activist in Japan Testified at Human Rights Hearing Mr. Zaw Min Htut, who is the first recognized Rohingya refugee in Japan, testified about his own experience and how his fellow Rohingyas are still struggling to be recognized as refugees in Japan. Rohingya Blogger, 27 Apr 2016.
Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan Facebook page
ビルマ市民フォーラム（People's Forum on Burma - Japan） Facebook page. This group has supported Rohingya refugees in detention (see story above: Detention center staff fail to aid dying asylum seeker: NGO)
Burmese people in Japan: A Wikipedia article
"Karen refugees from Myanmar prepare for new life in Japan" is the title of a 2010 Asahi Shinbun article about the acceptance of Burmese refugees in Japan.
"Burmese Refugees Face Tough Time in Japan" is the the title of a 2012 article about the treatment of Burmese refugees in Japan.
"Change in Myanmar brings opportunities for immigrants, asylum seekers" is the title of a 2010 Asahi Shinbun article about the future for Burmese people living in Japan, as political changes take place in their home country.
BRSA Civil organization consists with Burmese and Japanese that lend money and give information to Burmese refugees.