The Research Problem
This research analyses Japan’s Refugee Policy with a focus on issues of social
exclusion and integration/inclusion. The paper seeks to explore some of the
many ways in which mechanisms of exclusion of ‘non Japanese’ persons
within Japan may function as a hindrance to accepting refugees as permanent
residents of the country. This research is important, since generally speaking,
Japan’s refugee policies have been very limited and have not adequately addressed
issues of integration, inclusion or exclusion. By analysing some of the
experiences of Vietnamese refugees, this paper aims to show how and why
refugee policies in Japan may be unsuited to receiving the small number of
Karen refugees (from Myanmar/Thailand) who started arriving in 2010. The
hope is to draw some lessons for more constructive debate and action in relation
to refugee policies in Japan in future.