[The refugee bill](https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/03/japan-endless-detention-migrants-speak-out-as-government-proposes-harsh-immigration-bill/) got rejected 2 years ago because it was inhumane and violated international refugee law. The United Nations even strongly urgedJapan to revise it [recently](https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/246026).
Today, it passed the Lower House with Komeito, Ishin, LDP in favor.
I never post stuff like this, but what is wrong with the lawmakers and the people in this country!?
Looking at the comments in Yahoo News gives the usual xenophonic comments like “they need to be tougher on immigrants”, “Its our tax money theyre using up!!”. “Rikken is only opposing just for show.”
Its the same bill from 2 years ago that didn’t pass because there was big news of [inhumane treatment of a Sri-Lankan woman](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/07/national/wishma-video-footage-public-view/). And people are now OK with it. wtf?!
Like can you remove an ounce of selfishness and put yourself in their situation? Theyre not *immigrants,* theres a reason they don’t want to go back to their country. People become refugees not by choice, but because if they stay in the country they will fucking die.
Am I crazy? Why are so many people in favor of this bill.
I doubt any future refugees are reading this but if you are, don’t come to Japan. There are much more humane nations willing to accept refugees. The difference in peoples stories is night and day between refugees in Japanese and other western nations.
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It’s too bad I can’t link to the SDGの歌 by NHK. Check them out on YouTube.
I mean, I’m in favor of it. Japan would be one of the hardest countries in the entire world for refugees to integrate into. I think it’s a pragmatic decision on Japan’s part. Either way this is all moot since as foreigners we have no say in how the Japanese want to welcome guests into their country.
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Considering that the population is declining so rapidly that Japan won’t be able to sustain its economy without immigrant labor, this is the kind of brilliant decision that the LDP is famous for.
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Japan is waging all its bets on robots being the future.
That, and avatar obachans in retirement homes working for lawson via avatar live stream.
I always like how ex pats complain how xenophobic the Japanese society is when in fact nobody is more xenophobic than ex pats living in Japan.
Most people complaining have not experienced living in countries grappling with significant migration challenges, such as Greece. In these situations, determining who poses a potential threat or assessing their intentions can be difficult. The Greek government is confronted with the challenge of accommodating incoming migrants in adherence to international regulations, despite their limited resources and capacity. As a result, they often resort to housing migrants in camps, which may not provide ideal living conditions.
It is important to ensure that people are admitted to a country only after undergoing thorough screening processes. If Japan chooses to prioritize its cultural homogeneity which is a big issue for the Japanese, supporting their decision is reasonable and I am all for it.
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Ive been living for almost 17 years in Japan .
Japan is an Island ,with a large history and culture .
Its their country and they are free to set the rules .the no refugee law I can agree on .
I’m a man of color and I get tired off looks every day but I get it .
Their country their rules .
Too many foreigners will just break Japan as we know it .There is simply too many social rules .
I mean its no secret that Japan takes a harsh stance on migration, whether its “normal” migration or refugees.
So I kinda dont see the point complaining about it. The majority of us arent Japanese citizen, so there is literally nothing we can do about it (except leave)
Good for Japan.
I remember watching some Japanese prof or whoever talking about the refugee crisis… it basically came down to “why import problems to your shores?” and “better to solve the problem at the source”.
It’s not an one-size-fit-all solution, but Japan has consistently been one of the top donor nations for the last 40+ years in terms of humanitarian aid, economic support, etc. When you really think about it, it’s quite a bit as they don’t really offer military support unlike other large donors (eg. US, NATO, etc).
One major problem I noticed from those who are pro or those against border policies is the misunderstanding of what criterions are required before being able to qualify as a refugee.
As per the UN: “Refugees are people who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution and have crossed an international border to find safety in another country.”
Unfortunately, many “refugees” are not eligible under those definition, as many are just from impoverished countries. Not to dismiss their struggles, but if you were from Bangladesh and made your way to Japan for a better life… ごめんなさい, you’re not a refugee. Now if you’re originally in Afghanistan and you were a member of the government that fell last year and are requesting asylum as the Taliban has placed you on their to-kill list… then yes, you’re a refugee.
Remember when some British folks were warning that refugees were gonna use boats to cross the English Channel to claim asylum. Remember how that theory was labeled as some racist conspiracy theory…. it’s been happening for years now.
We are mostly immigrants in this sub, and yet many seem to be in support of detaining asylum seekers indefinitely.
Anyone else sensing the irony in that?