Sadako Ogata, former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, urged Japan on Saturday to recognize more asylum seekers as refugees in order to fulfill its international humanitarian obligations.
"While Japan has financially contributed to the refugee-support projects, it needs to accept and protect more refugees," Ogata said in a message contributed to a symposium on refugee issues sponsored by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in Tokyo.
She also said Japan risks damaging its international reputation if it does not do so.