Japan remained in a group of countries the United States judges to fully meet minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, according to a State Department report released Thursday.
The department placed Japan in Tier 1, the highest classification on the four-tier list, for the second straight year because "authorities continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period."
The ranking categories are Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch List and Tier 3.