The ongoing conflicts in Syria and Iraq have produced more than 12 million refugees and internally displaced people. They are flooding across borders in the region, and some neighboring states have reached their limit. One-third of Lebanon's population now comprises refugees.
Meanwhile, Japan, a signatory member of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, recognized only six refugees in 2013. To this day, no Syrian has ever received such status.
During a visit to Tokyo last week, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres called on Japan to review its rigid refugee recognition system.