Given its current popularity in certain U.S. political circles, it was inevitable that the word "fake" would eventually find traction in Japan. The September issue of the monthly magazine Bungei Shunju applies it to the headline of an article by journalist Miyu Suzuki titled "'Fake refugees' being forced on Japan."

What sort of numbers are we talking about? In 2016, 10,901 individuals applied for refugee status here, a sharp increase over the 7,586 applicants in 2015, and a rise of over tenfold from 2007, when the total was fewer than 1,000.

Gaining approval, however, is like winning the lottery: in 2016, only 28 people were accorded refugee status.