Japan

Japan is a liberal democracy with a record of upholding civil and political rights, but its laws and systems to protect rights are weak. Japan has no laws prohibiting racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination, or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Japan has a law prohibiting sexual discrimination in the workplace only. Civil society groups have long called for a national human rights institution. Serious human rights issues include an asylum and refugee determination system that rarely grants refugee status, a “hostage” justice system that detains criminal suspects for long periods to coerce confessions, use of the death penalty, and a huge psychiatric industry that uses arbitrary detention and use of physical restraints. The Japanese government continues to actively support the expansion of fossil fuels both domestically and abroad, contributing to the global climate crisis.

Deforestation

November 26, 2025
Commentary
Japan Should Take Responsibility for its Deforestation Footprint

Luciana Téllez Chávez

Senior Researcher, Environment and Human Rights

Published in: HuffPost Japan
Asia

November 17, 2025
News Release
Japan: New Government Should Adopt Human Rights Diplomacy
Asia

October 20, 2025
Commentary
Vietnam’s Rights Suppression Carries a Heavy Price

Elaine Pearson

Asia Director

Published in: The Japan Times

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