The justice minister acknowledged on Friday that a male refugee counselor asked a female asylum seeker from Congo an inappropriate question about sexual assault during questioning earlier this year.
"We think it was an inappropriate (question). This is extremely regrettable," said Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa at a news conference.
Members of the Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees filed a complaint against the Immigration Bureau earlier this month, demanding improvements in the attitudes and behavior of refugee counselors. The group also asserted that similar cases had occurred in the past. The ministry oversees the bureau.