Ukrainian refugees positive about life in Japan despite challenges

Fourth grader and refugee from Ukraine, introducing himself to his elementary school classmates in Obu, Japan. – Photos: Japan News/ANN

FOLLOWING Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a total of 1,775 Ukrainian refugees had entered Japan by Aug 21, according to the Immigration Services Agency. On the same day, 1,708 of them were living in 45 prefectures across the nation, though some had already returned to Ukraine. They are trying to build a new life in Japan, even while perplexed by cultural and language differences.

On March 2, about a week after the invasion started, the Japanese government announced that it would accept refugees from Ukraine. Since transporting 20 Ukrainian refugees wishing to come to Japan by government plane from Poland in early April, the government has continued to accept Ukrainian refugees by paying for seats on direct commercial flights from Poland.