The Japanese government has given Ukrainians residency and work permits for up to a year. But for those from other countries, it can be a years-long struggle to attain similar benefits and privileges.
– 17 miles from the Japanese capital Tokyo — where local authorities are providing for temporary accommodation, food and living expenses.
Human rights groups and refugee advocates say the system is deliberately designed to set a high bar for successful refugee applications. Refugees applying for asylum in Japan must demonstrate they face life-threatening persecution at home. "I like Japan and Japanese people, but I hate the ones in the detention center," he says, speaking fluent Japanese."How could they bully us like that? What did we do? We are refugees. I have no criminal record."to protest their detention. Safari Diman says he sank into deep depression and thought about ending his own life.