Society

Japan granted refugee status to 74 people last year, highest on record

May 14 (NHK) - Japan's immigration agency says the country granted refugee status to 74 foreigners last year, the largest number since record-keeping began in 1982.

The Immigration Services Agency says 2,413 foreigners applied for refugee status in the country in 2021. The number is down 1,523 from the previous year and marked a decline for the fourth straight year.

The number of people granted refugee status was 74, up 27 from the previous year.

They included 32 people from Myanmar, where a military coup occurred in February last year, followed by 18 from China and nine from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Japan allowed 580 people to stay in the country on humanitarian grounds even though it did not give them refugee status. The figure was a record high and an increase of 536 from the previous year.

Of these people, 498 people were from Myanmar and six were from Syria.

Ferrari Auctioned for Over 170 Million Yen, Sets New Record

A Ferrari seized from a tax delinquent was auctioned by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau, fetching over 170 million yen, the highest bid ever recorded for such an auction.

Zao’s Snow Monsters Face Extinction

Zao’s iconic snow monsters, the frost-covered trees known as 'juhyo,' face an existential threat. These towering, snow-laden trees have long been a winter highlight in the region, famously resembling monstrous figures covered in snow. However, their survival is now under severe threat.

Japan Ranks 92nd in English Proficiency, Lowest in History

EF Education First, a global education organization, published this year’s English Proficiency Index on Wednesday, ranking nations worldwide. Japan’s ranking stood at 92nd among 116 countries and regions, continuing a 14-year trend of record lows.

Famed Hot Spring Struggles to Handle Visitor Surge

Ginzan Hot Springs in Yamagata, known for its Taisho-era charm, is now at peak season for autumn foliage. While this secluded onsen town is a well-known destination in the Tohoku region, an influx of foreign tourists has led local officials to implement restrictions on day visitors starting next month.

Convenience Stores to Start Selling Over-the-Counter Drugs

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has announced plans to allow the sale of over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores without on-site pharmacists.

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