A 15-year-old Iranian girl's first trip to her home country in 10 years last July began with a surprise welcome at Tehran airport by some 100 relatives.
For the girl, who left Iran when she was 4, vague memories of her relatives, especially her grandparents, have been a source of strength in a long-uncertain life as the daughter of illegal residents in Niiza, Saitama Prefecture.
Her homecoming was the result of an extraordinary decision by the Justice Ministry last year to grant her family and three other Iranian families visas to stay in Japan.