In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Japan displayed an unexpected level of humanitarian engagement. What was particularly notable was the governmentʼs and societyʼs unusual willingness and rapid readiness to accept displaced Ukrainians̶a rare instance in which humanitarianism was visibly practiced in Japan. This study explains why such acceptance became possible, focusing on the interplay between the Japanese government and society. It also situates Japanʼs humanitarian response within the broader context of its historical and diplomatic approaches to refugees. The findings suggest that the acceptance of displaced Ukrainians was driven by three main factors : the governmentʼs shift toward “ humanitarianism as diplomacy, ” the emergence of “ feel-good” humanitarianism in society, and Japanʼs collective memory of war and radiation exposure. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for Japanʼs future humanitarian and refugee policies.
Chigumi Kawaguchi (2026) studied this question.