Post date: Apr 24, 2018 3:28:33 AM
a. What was interesting and what did you learn from your research (and discussions with other students about it) this week?
b. How has your thinking about your research area changed or developed this week?
c. What do you want to focus on in your research on this area now? What are three or more research questions for you now?
A. My last research of the cycle 2 was about the Syrians and the details of asylum application in Japan. I mainly used Japanese governmental websites for the information of application (入国管理局)。 For some fact examples, I made use of the page from our zemi website. The application form was pretty difficult to write down, so I tried to take only important and basic information. At first, when the foreigner wants to be a refugee in Japan, they have to fill up some papers and hand them in to the immigration Bureau. There are a lot of questions which tests one if he or she is a “real” refugee. It asks every details of the experiences. Although it is sometime difficult for the visitor to talk about one’s past, without it one cannot get a support from the government. Japanese application is famous to be very strict. In 2015, only 6 Syrian refugees were accepted from 60. This is less than 5%, while western nations are accepting more than 90% of Syrians as a refugee（弁護士ドットコム）.
B The style of application form made me a little surprised. It is needed to write all of private information and the experiences which person may not want to tell to others. As a result of it, the number of refugees accepted is low anyway. I think government needs to put some more support for 在留資格者. For example, they can connect people with NPOs or local volunteers. Putting in the detention center days will not be good for anyone.
C As my presentation will be in 2 weeks, I’ll make a little more research for it. On this Thursday, I’m going to visit café zemi. I’ll also research about Watanabe Shougo (lawyer who Mike introduced) and 難民審査参与員. I couldn’t understand about this system, and I want to look at it again.
These are my drafts of discussion questions.
Which is important for Japan, domestic or international?
(Abe prime minister supposed that Japan has domestic problems that it is difficult to think about refugees.)
Residence qualification 在留許可 or asylum seeking 難民申請?
(Some people say refugees have to take care of themselves by own on the internet)
How can you prove if you have ever been tortured?
（難民申請書参考）
References:
"Firms giving refugees jobs instead of charity", the Japan Times, by Megumi Izuka, 2013.10.25.
"Japan Immigration Detention", Global Detention Project, 2017.7.10.
「難民認定制度」, 入国管理局, 2017.7.10.
「難民認定申請」, 法務省, 2017.7.10.
「国を逃げ出して、家もお金も失った」 シリア人４名ー「難民認定」を求めて日本政府を提訴」, 弁護士ドットコムNews, 2015.3.17.