Lawyers and supporters of asylum-seekers in Japan have cast a critical eye on the start of the government's third-country refugee resettlement program.

They claim that while the government is seemingly opening the country for more refugees through the pilot program, the situation for individuals who fled their countries directly seeking political asylum here continues to be very harsh. Critics point to the lack of consistency in the government's approach to the overall issue of allowing people to resettle here.

Some say the government has put a wall around the program to keep out other parties willing to help.