No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
The Whole Block Goes Down: Refugees in Japan's detention centers during the pandemic
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2025
Abstract
In the context of the global increase in displaced people, spiking to nearly 80 million in these corona times, Japan has also seen a dramatic increase in the number of applications for refugee asylum since 2010. Despite increasing numbers of applications, Japan has not increased its refugee recognition rate. Unable to return home to sure persecution when rejected, many refugees end up in Japanese detention centers once their visa expires. Like jails, hospitals and detention centers everywhere, detention centers in Japan are crowded and dangerous and unable to protect the detainees inside. Japan has been slower than many other countries to take precautions, including temporary release. This paper outlines some of the policy shifts that have led to this dangerous situation, the conditions of anxiety inside the detention centers themselves in Tokyo and Ibaraki and the problematic situation of “provisional release” of some detainees into a corona-infested Japan without any safety net or protection. We hope to not only point out the immediate danger of infection under COVID-19, but also the larger dynamic of using detention to manage a refugee asylum system that has proven to be ineffective and unjust.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Authors 2020
References
Barbaran, R & Slater, D. (2020, May 4). ‘If the virus gets in, it will spread like wildfire.’ Japan Times.Google Scholar
Forum for Refugees Japan. (2020, June 28). Shūyō sōkan ni kansuru senmon-bu kaihōkokusho ‘sōkan kihi chōki shūyō mondai no kaiketsu ni muketa teigen’ e no shimin dantai iken-sho [Citizen's group statement of opinion on the report of the specialized subcommittee on detention and deportation “Proposals for resolving deportation and long-term detention problems”].Google Scholar
Fritz, M. (2019, November 25). Japan's ‘hidden darkness’: The detention of unwanted immigrants.Google Scholar
Global Detention Project. (2013). Japan immigration detention. https://www.globaldetentionproject.org/countries/asia-pacific/japan.Google Scholar
Human Rights Now. (2019, October 31). HRN releases statement calling for the prohibition of arbitrary detention in immigration facilities in Japan and related legal reforms.Google Scholar
Human Rights Now. (2020, January 22). HRN issues a joint statement urging the Government of Japan to accept a country visit by the UN working group on arbitrary detention.Google Scholar
Ida, J. (2019, September 2). Re-detention of asylum seekers in Japan, hunger strikes show strained immigration system. Re-detention of asylum seekers in Japan, hunger strikes show strained immigration system Japan.Google Scholar
Ida, J. (2020, August 7). Nyūkan shūyō-sha de hatsu no kansen kakunin [First infection confirmed by immigration detainees]. Mainichi Shimbun.Google Scholar
Immigration Services Agency of Japan. (n.d.-a). Kari hōmen kyohi handan ni kakaru kōryo jikō [Points to consider regarding judgment of provisional license].Google Scholar
Immigration Services Agency of Japan. (n.d.-b) Nanmin nintei tetsudzuki zukai [Refugee recognition procedure diagram].Google Scholar
Immigration Services Agency of Japan. (n.d.-c). Taikyo kyōsei tetsudzuki oyobi no shukkoku meirei tetsudzuki no nagare [Deportation procedure and departure order procedure flow].Google Scholar
Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Shūyō shisetsu ni tsuite [About accommodation facility] [Online image].Google Scholar
The Japan Times. (2014, December 3). Immigrant detention centers under scrutiny in Japan after fourth death.Google Scholar
The Japan Times. (2019, November 27). Japanese bar association says long-term detainments of foreign nationals on the rise.Google Scholar
The Japan Times. (2020, May 1). Japan to release immigration detainees as centers fear virus outbreaks.Google Scholar
Katz, M. (2020a, February 29). The world's refugee system is broken. The world's refugee system is broken Atlantic.Google Scholar
Katz, M. (2020b, April 16). ICE releases hundreds of immigrants as Coronavirus spreads in detention centers. NPR.Google Scholar
Levin, S. (2020, April 4). ‘We're gonna die’: migrants in US jail beg for deportation due to Covid-19 exposure. ‘We're gonna die’: migrants in US jail beg for deportation due to Covid-19 exposure Guardian.Google Scholar
Mainichi Japan. (2019a, November 11). Editorial: Japan needs to tackle human rights abuses at detention centers.Google Scholar
Mainichi Japan. (2019b, November 20). Intensifying rights abuses against foreigners held in detention put Japan on dangerous path.Google Scholar
Mainichi Japan. (2019b, July 9) Japan's hidden darkness: Deaths, inhumane treatment rife at immigration centers.Google Scholar
Mainichi Japan. (2020b, June 21). ‘Watashi ni jiyū o kudasai’ Tōkyō nyūkan shūyō gaikoku hito ga uttae chōki-ka, retsuakuna kankyō ni kōgi demo [“Give me freedom” Tokyo immigration detainee appeals for protest against prolonged and poor environment].Google Scholar
Mainichi Japan. (2020c, June 22). Editorial: Tightening Japan's immigration regs no excuse to trample human rights.Google Scholar
Ministry of Justice. (2015, September 15). Nanmin'ninteiseido no un'yō no minaoshi no gaiyō ni tsuite [About the outline of the review of the operation of the refugee recognition system].Google Scholar
Ministry of Justice. (2018, January 12). Nanmin'ninteiseido no tekisei-ka no tame no saranaru un'yō no minaoshi ni tsuite [Regarding further review of operations for the proper refugee recognition system].Google Scholar
Ministry of Justice. (2020). Hōkoku-sho sōkan kihi chōki shūyō mondai no kaiketsu ni muketa teigen [Report: Proposals for Resolving Repatriation and Solving the Long-Term Containment Problem].Google Scholar
Nomoto, S. (2020, January 13). Hunger strikes spread in Japan's migrant detention centers. Hunger strikes spread in Japan's migrant detention centers Asian Review.Google Scholar
Osumi, M. (2020, April 21). Spread of COVID-19 in Japanese prisons spurs calls for releases. Spread of COVID-19 in Japanese prisons spurs calls for releases Japan Times.Google Scholar
Oxfam. (2016). Where there's a will there's a way: Safe havens for refugees from Syria.Google Scholar
Slater, D., O'day, Robin and Fulco, Flavia, (under preparation). The Collapse of the Refugee System in Japan.Google Scholar
Tamura, M. (2020, June 27). Asylum seekers in Japan face battle for survival in time of coronavirus. Asylum seekers in Japan face battle for survival in time of coronavirus Japan Times.Google Scholar
Tanaka, C. (2018, May 21). Japan's refugee-screening system sets high bar. Japan's refugee-screening system sets high bar Japan Times.Google Scholar
The Tokyo Bar Association. (2020, June 22). ‘Sōkan kihi chōki shūyō mondai no kaiketsu ni muketa teigen’ ni motodzuku keiji batsu dōnyūtō ni hantai suru kaichō seimei [Chairman's statement against the introduction of criminal penalties, etc. based on “Proposals for avoiding deportation and solving long-term detention problems”].Google Scholar
Tokyo Metropolitan Government. (2020, May 13). Message from Governor Koike on the Novel Coronavirus.Google Scholar
UNCHR (United National High Commissioner on Refugees). (n.d.). Information for asylum-seekers in Japan.Google Scholar
UNHCR (United National High Commissioner on Refugees). (2002). Selected indicators measuring capacity and contributions of host countries.Google Scholar
UNHCR (United National High Commissioner on Refugees). (2007). Advisory opinion on the extraterritorial application of non-refoulement obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees and its 1967 Protocol.Google Scholar
UNHCR (United National High Commissioner on Refugees) (2020). The 1951 Refugee Convention.Google Scholar