In a significant legal decision, a Japanese high court has granted nationality to the Japan-born daughter of Afghan refugees, overturning a previous rejection by a family court.
Japanese media reports describe the ruling, issued by the Nagoya High Court on Wednesday, as a “breakthrough” in Japan’s handling of refugee-related nationality cases.
The court’s ruling marks a first for a child of Afghan parents, allowing her to be registered in Japan’s family registry. Under Japan’s Nationality Act, children born in Japan can acquire Japanese citizenship if both parents are either unknown or stateless. Presiding Judge Yasuhiro Hasegawa noted that the girl’s parents were effectively stateless at the time of her birth in 2022, following Afghanistan’s loss of international recognition after the Taliban took control in 2021.
This decision reflects Japan’s evolving approach to refugee matters. In 2021, Japan granted refugee status to only nine individuals, but the number surged to 147 in 2022 and 237 in 2023, according to the Immigration Services Agency. The case is seen as an important step toward broadening protections for refugee families in Japan.
