This and many more shortbooks are available in pdf form from the Center of Documentation of Refugees and Migrants online at http://cdr.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp Shortbook: Resettlement pilot program for third-country refugees in Japan (Yukiko Abe, Center of Documentation of Refugees and Migrants Staff, July 27, 2010) The Japanese government (the former ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party) decided in 2008 to launch an inaugural three-year pilot program beginning in September of 2010 to accept about 30 Burmese refugees each year from a camp in Thailand in response to UNHCR requirements and addresses the concerns of international society. These refugees are so-called third-country resettlement refugees.1 This policy has been handed to the new ruling party, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which came into office in September, 2009. A former UNHCR Tokyo representative, Saburo Takizawa played a significant role in realizing the launch of the resettlement program in Japan. The Minister of Justice at the time, Kunio Hatoyama‟s positive attitude on the resettlement program accelerated the realization of the program. In addition, the Commissioner of UNHCR‟s yearly visit to Japan to request resettlement program influenced the Japanese government‟s decision to launch of the resettlement program. The first 32 third-country resettlement refugees are scheduled to take three or four weeks of pre-departure training and have full medical examinations done in the refugee camp before coming to Tokyo in September 2010. Upon arrival in Tokyo, they will first settle in specially allocated facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area and undertake a six-month assistance program set up by the quasi government organization, the Refugee Assistance Headquarters that will including language training, employment consultations and help in sending their children to school in Japan. After that, they are expected to be “independent.” However, the concern is that it is not clear how or where these refugees will settle after the course. One citizen group in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture has showed willingness to help in the integration of these people. The government explained that, “the condition of acceptance for Resettlement refugees is basically the same standard for the Indo-Chinese refugees”(Cabinet Secretariat) although many Indo-Chinese faced difficulties such as lack of language skill and discrimination after the course. In the case of Japan, refugees recommended for third country resettlement generally have a lower educational background than those who come directly as asylum seekers; some are born in the camps. Hence, it is quite difficult to make a living and integrate into modern society in such a short time. These are challenges that the Japanese government must think about seriously. Points of Interest: 1. Official information regarding resettlement pilot program for third country refugees in Japan (Japanese only) can be found at: http://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/nanmin/081216ryoukai.html 2. News paper article regarding resettlement pilot program for third country refugees in Japan can be found at: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090208x1.html 3. Point of view regarding resettlement pilot program for third country refugees by a NGO staff who works for refugees in Japan can be found at: http://www.refugee.or.jp/jar/topics/publicity/cat30/2010/04/15-1057.shtml 4. Frequently Asked Questions about Resettlement (UNHCR) can be found at: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi- bin/texis/vtx/search?page=search&docid=4ac0873d6&query=resettlement third country Japan Bibliography: Cabinet Secretariat. “Dai Sankoku Teijyu Nanmin No Ukeire Ni Kansuru Pailot Keistu no Jishi Ni Tsumite [Implication of the pilot program to accept third- country resettlement refugees].” 2008. Accessed February 2, 2010. http://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/nanmin/081216ryoukai.html. 1 There are two types of resettlement for refugee in a new country. „Third-country resettlement refugees‟ go to a new country from a refugee camp under the resettlement program by UNHCR. „Convention refugees‟ receive refugee status by each State in light of the U.N. Refugee convention. .