Daily Diary: Refugees at Sophia University

Today was one of those cherished late-start days, when (theoretically) you can sleep in late, find a nice cafe for breakfast, and not worry about classes until 1 pm. Me, Haley, Andrea, Shandy, and Cassie all took advantage of the moment and walked to a nearby restaurant for tempura and soba (highly recommend).

After awing over the wonders of Japanese cuisine, we headed to Sangubashi station to meet with the rest of the group. With some time to spare, we stocked up on drinks for the day. I decided to try strawberry-milk water (highly do not recommend). The train arrived promptly, and our journey to Sophia University began.

Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Flavia Fulco, a professor from Tohoku University who later started off the presentations of the day by introducing us to the asylum-seeking process in Japan. She took us along narrow roads between the towering buildings of the university, past tasty-looking food trucks and students buying yukatas for the coming Tanabata Matsuri.

When we reached the classroom, we were greeted by three students who were all involved in the campus club SRSG - the Sophia Refugee Support Group. I was especially interested to learn that all three of them were half-Japanese, as national identity and mixed-race peoples in Japan is a topic that we have discussed a lot. In their presentation, they explained their work in SRSG. They visit the Shinagawa Detention Center four days a week, translate and deliver important documents that the detainees need, provide emotional support, and organize charity events to raise money for the detainees. I was really inspired by their commitment to the group and their efforts to reach out to people who are largely isolated and disconnected from the outside world.

Lastly, we met two people who are currently refugees in Japan: one was a man from Uganda, the other a woman from Syria. They told us their stories, and explained their experiences becoming refugees, arriving in Japan, and their current situation. I was struck by their positivity and hope even in such a dire and uncontrolled situation. Despite not being granted asylum yet, they continue to strive as best they can in the life they have, while they wait, hoping, for their new one to begin.

I left Sophia University with a better understanding of how the asylum process works (or doesn't) in Japan, and the real-life consequences that this has for individuals coming to Japan in search of safety.

The day ended with conveyor belt sushi and milk tea, then an early 7:00 return for everybody to work on school, think about the day, and get some rest.