Afghan refugees are facing hardship in Japan, and reports have covered the government's response and the circumstances surrounding their acceptance. There have also been reports of instances in which remarks that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would welcome them were highlighted.
Following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, the Japanese government evacuated staff from the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan, along with local JICA staff and their families, to Japan. Since then, universities and individuals across Japan have helped drive continued efforts to accept former international students and others. Reports have covered local reception arrangements and support initiatives.
According to data from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the number of Afghans residing in Japan reached 6,887 at the end of 2025, double the 3,476 recorded in June 2021, before the Taliban's return to power. The figures show that settlement and residence in Japan as refugees have expanded rapidly.
The article reports that refugees arrived in Japan over a short period and describes the hardship they currently face, while also highlighting the view that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would welcome them. The overlap of several developments has brought challenges in the field of refugee support into sharper focus.