Japan Immigration & Kurdish Population – Eurasia Review
Japan’s immigration policy creates important hurdles for Kurdish asylum seekers, with a meager acceptance rate of only 1.5% in 2024. This restrictive approach leaves many Kurds in legal limbo, unable to work or access essential services, as highlighted in this report from News Directory 3. The primarykeyword, Kurdish asylum seekers, face increasing challenges amidst rising anti-Kurdish sentiment fueled by social media and local incidents.The secondarykeyword, Japan’s immigration policy, is under scrutiny, with many experts citing potential diplomatic concerns with Turkey as a key factor in the low asylum approval rate. Discover the systemic issues and complex geopolitical dynamics shaping the future of Kurdish refugees in Japan. discover what’s next …
Japan’s Immigration Policy and the Plight of Kurdish Asylum Seekers
Updated June 7, 2025
Japan’s immigration policy, while evolving, continues to face criticism regarding its treatment of Kurdish asylum seekers. Despite broader shifts to grant protection to refugees from Ukraine, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, Kurds remain largely excluded, highlighting a double standard in the country’s asylum process.
The Kurdish population in Japan has grown in recent years, with estimates placing their numbers between 2,000 and 3,000, primarily residing in Kawaguchi and Warabi cities in Saitama Prefecture. Many work in construction and demolition, sectors facing labor shortages.However, most are not permitted to work legally.
While Japan acceded to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees in 1981, its refugee acceptance rate remains low. In 2024, only 190 of 12,373 applicants were granted asylum, a mere 1.5%. This restrictiveness significantly impacts Kurdish asylum seekers, with only one Kurd granted asylum in Japan’s history, following a 2022 appeal.
Yasuhiro Hishida, of Japan’s Refugee Status Recognition Office, suggested some applicants abuse the system, seeking economic opportunities rather than fleeing persecution. Shiho Tanaka, spokeswoman for the Japanese Association for Refugees, countered that many face genuine danger in their home countries. Eyyup Kurt, a Kurdish journalist who applied for asylum, had been arrested five times and shot by a member of the Islamic State in Turkey.
Some experts contend that Japan’s reluctance to recognise Kurdish refugees stems from its desire to maintain positive relations with Turkey, which denies discriminating against its Kurdish population.
Sohrab Ahmadian, a research fellow at Tokyo university of Foreign Studies, divides Kurdish immigrants into registered asylum applicants and “overstayers.” Many Kurds apply for asylum to escape persecution,but Japan’s restrictive policies leave most in “provisional release” status,unable to work,access healthcare,or obtain permanent residency. Some enter using Turkish passports to avoid immediate scrutiny, reapplying for refugee status repeatedly, frequently enough in vain.
Anti-Kurdish sentiment has risen, fueled by social media and local incidents. A 2023 hospital brawl in Kawaguchi involving Kurdish men sparked hate speech and demonstrations. Writer Yasuda Koichi argues that the lack of documentation among Kurds is a outcome of Japan’s immigration system, which frequently enough denies them refugee status despite persecution in Turkey. Revisions to Japan’s Immigration Control and refugee Recognition Act in 2024, allowing deportation of repeat applicants, have further fueled xenophobia.
“The lack of documentation is largely the fault of the Japanese immigration system, which routinely denies Kurds refugee status despite the persecution they endure in Turkey,” said writer Yasuda koichi.
what’s next
The situation highlights broader issues within Japan’s immigration policy, reflecting anxieties over national identity and migration control. Observers say a fundamental shift in Japan’s approach is needed to protect Kurdish refugees and uphold international law.