Japan asylum seekers

TOKYO: The number of asylum seekers in Japan grew 80% to a record 19 628 in 2017 – but only 20 were accepted, the government said.

Immigration is a controversial subject in Japan, where many pride themselves on cultural and ethnic homogeneity.

Japan has been reluctant to relax asylum policies or allow in migrant blue-collar workers.

The number of people seeking refugee status had been on the rise in recent years as people took advantage of a system that allowed applicants with valid visas to work while their refugee claims were reviewed, the justice ministry said.