Japan Association for Refugees

What Japan Association for Refugees does

Japan Association for Refugees (JAR, 認定NPO法人 難民支援協会) is a certified non-profit corporation founded in 1999 in Tokyo, operating as one of Japan's longest-established refugee support organizations. It delivers a four-pillar service model consisting of Legal Support (multilingual case preparation and lawyer coordination for refugee status recognition), Social Support (food, clothing, shelter via a 27-room temporary facility, and medical coordination), Integration Support (employment matching, a 180-hour Employment Preparation Japanese Program, and community outreach), and Policy Advocacy (engagement with Diet members and the Immigration Services Agency). The organization is an official UNHCR partner in Japan and, per FY2024 disclosures, supported 996 asylum seekers and handled over 10,000 consultations involving refugees from approximately 80 countries; cumulatively since founding it has assisted over 8,000 people.

JAR's technology footprint is intentionally limited: it relies on human interpreters for multilingual counseling, uses Stripe to process credit-card donations, accepts in-kind gifts through Amazon Japan wish lists, and operates a basic email newsletter and social media presence (X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube). It has no proprietary software product and does not sell services. All service distribution is conducted directly through its Chiyoda-ku Tokyo office, a toll-free multilingual hotline (operational since 2006), and referral pathways through partner organizations, with no commercial channel or resellers.

JAR is entirely donation-funded through three primary streams: (1) recurring monthly donations via the 'Refugee Special Supporter' subscription program (launched 2007); (2) one-time, legacy/inheritance, and goods-based donations; and (3) event-driven fundraising, principally the Tokyo Marathon official-charity partnership (40 slots at 150,000+ JPY each for the 2027 race) and film-screening events such as the World Refugee Day 'LOST LAND' co-hosted with Kinofilm. Donors receive approximately 50% tax deduction under its Certified NPO status. Governance rests with Representative Director Ishikawa Eri (continuous since founding) and newly appointed Executive Secretary Sugiyama Fumiaki (effective February 1, 2026), supported by ~30 staff including part-timers.

Name

Japan Association for Refugees

Legal name

特定非営利活動法人难民支援協会

Website

https://refugee.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) is a Tokyo-based certified non-profit founded in 1999 that delivers legal, social, integration, and advocacy support to refugees and asylum seekers in Japan. It serves approximately 1,000 refugees annually across roughly 80 countries and operates as an official UNHCR partner, funded primarily through individual donations, recurring monthly giving, and event-based fundraising such as the Tokyo Marathon charity program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Asylum & Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Support (BPADAHAB), Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN)

Keywords

• Refugee support services
• Humanitarian assistance
• Legal aid
• Social services
• Nonprofit advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokio

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations through the 'Refugee Special Supporter' program, one-time donations, and legacy/inheritance donations. Tax deduction benefits available for Japanese taxpayers.
2. Event Fundraising: Tokyo Marathon charity participation where charity runners donate 150,000 yen or more, and general donation-only contributions starting from 1,000 yen.
3. Corporate and Organizational Donations: Support from companies and organizations including goods donations via Amazon wish lists, Montbell club support cards, and other corporate partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

JAR is a certified non-profit organization that provides comprehensive support services to refugees and asylum seekers in Japan. Its offerings span four pillars: legal assistance for refugee status recognition (multilingual counseling, document preparation, lawyer coordination), social support (food, clothing, housing, medical care coordination with 27 emergency shelter rooms), integration support (180-hour Employment Preparation Japanese language program and community partnerships), and policy advocacy toward the Japanese government.

Product overview

JAR is a certified NPO providing comprehensive support services for refugees and asylum seekers in Japan. The organization operates four core service pillars: Legal Support (难民認定支援), Social Support (生活支援), Integration Support (定住支援), and Policy Advocacy (政策提言). Core programs include multilingual legal counseling with interpreter services in English, French, Arabic, and other languages; temporary shelter facilities with 27 rooms; food and daily commodity distribution; and an Employment Preparation Japanese Program offering 180 hours of practical language training. Additional offerings include the Refugee Assistant Training Program, One Action for Refugees volunteer initiative, Tokyo Marathon charity partnership, film screening events for awareness raising, and the 'JAR Times' email newsletter. JAR partners with UNHCR and serves approximately 1,000 visitors annually from about 80 countries, handling over 10,000 consultation cases (FY2024 data).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Support Services (法的支援) Multilingual information on refugee application procedures, document preparation, evidence collection assistance, and coordination with lawyers for refugee status recognition applications in Japan.
• Social Support Services (生活支援) Personal counseling and support for medical care, food, clothing, and housing needs, including negotiations with medical institutions and local governments and securing shelter facilities for refugees in Japan.
• Integration Support Services (定住支援) Assistance for refugees to achieve economic independence through employment support and business startup assistance, plus outreach to local authorities and hospitals to build community partnerships.
• Policy Advocacy and Networking (政策提言・ネットワーク) Advocacy to the Japanese government and Diet members aiming to establish a system where refugees are appropriately protected and accepted, combined with awareness-raising activities for public understanding.
• Public Relations Activities (広報活動) Awareness-raising activities to promote understanding and empathy toward refugees and the realization of a society that encourages coexistence in Japan.
• Employment Preparation Japanese Program (就業準備日本語プログラム) A 60-day intensive Japanese language training program (180 hours total, 3 hours daily) teaching practical business Japanese and workplace manners, matching refugees to industries including manufacturing, restaurants, cleaning, and healthcare.
• Temporary Shelter (27 rooms) Emergency accommodation facilities comprising 27 rooms for homeless refugees; when full, additional accommodation arrangements are made for those in desperate need, particularly women and children.
• One Action for Refugees Volunteer Program A volunteer program allowing individuals to participate in refugee support activities, with online orientation sessions available for those interested in volunteer opportunities including summer activities.
• Tokyo Marathon Charity Partnership Official charity partnership with Tokyo Marathon 2027, accepting charity runners and donations from supporters across Japan; charity runners commit 150,000+ JPY.
• Mail Magazine 'JAR Times' (JAR便り) Free email newsletter delivering information about JAR activities, refugee situations, and organizational updates to subscribers.
• Recipe Book 'Flavours Without Borders' (海を渡った故郷の味) A cookbook featuring 45 recipes collected from refugees, showcasing dishes from their home countries that have traveled across the sea to Japan.

Quantifiable outcome

• 996 asylum seekers supported in FY2024 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Kinofilm (キノフィルムズ)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2026Co-organized the 'LOST LAND' film screening event for World Refugee Day, promoting awareness about refugee issues through cinema.
• Tokyo Marathon 2027flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2026Official charity participant in Tokyo Marathon 2027 charity program, with charity runners raising funds for refugee support.
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJAR is an official partner of UNHCR in Japan, working together on refugee protection and support activities.
• Lawyers and Legal ProfessionalscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration with lawyers for refugee status applications, including lawyer study groups and interpretation coordination for legal interviews.
• Interpreters (English, French, Arabic and other languages)coreTechnology or IntegrationNetwork of interpreters supporting multilingual counseling and legal consultations for refugees.
• Door to Asylum Nagoya (DAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Nagoya providing refugee support services.
• RAFIQ JAPANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Osaka providing refugee support services.
• Japanese Language SchoolsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership formed in 2016 with Japanese language schools for employment preparation programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Refugees International: Refugees International is a Washington DC-based advocacy organization championing the rights of displaced people through policy research and government engagement. Comparable to JAR's policy advocacy pillar and direct government testimony function.
• Asylum Matters (UK): Asylum Matters is a UK-based charity focused on asylum and refugee support including legal advocacy and integration. Comparable to JAR's advocacy-led approach and single-country operating model within a restrictive policy environment.
• HIAS: HIAS is a global Jewish nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, legal aid, and integration services. Directly comparable in service mix (legal status assistance, social support, integration) and beneficiary focus, though with longer international operating history.
• Refugee Council UK: Refugee Council UK is the largest NPO supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, providing legal aid, advocacy, and integration services. Direct functional peer to JAR with similar four-pillar model (legal, social, integration, advocacy) within a single national jurisdiction.
• Refuge (UK): Refuge provides specialist support for women and children fleeing domestic abuse and is a UK leader in legal aid and policy advocacy. Comparable to JAR in combining legal aid, social services, and policy advocacy within a single national jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC): ICMC is a Geneva-based international NGO providing migration and refugee assistance, resettlement, and humanitarian services globally. Comparable to JAR in service breadth (legal, social, integration) but operating at significantly greater geographic and resource scale.
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees): UNHCR is the UN agency mandated to protect refugees globally and is JAR's official partner in Japan. It is the upstream institutional counterpart that funds and refers refugees to organizations like JAR.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): IRC is a major global humanitarian NGO providing legal aid, resettlement support, and integration services to refugees and displaced people. Comparable in mission (legal, social, and integration support) but operating at vastly greater scale across multiple countries.

Regional players

• AMDA International Medical Aid: AMDA is a Japan-based international NGO focused on medical and humanitarian aid. Comparable as a fellow Japanese humanitarian NPO with international operations, similar corporate and government partnership channels, and donor base overlap.
• Peace Winds Japan: Peace Winds Japan is a Japan-based humanitarian NGO providing emergency relief, refugee support, and development aid. Comparable as a fellow Japan-headquartered humanitarian NPO with overlapping donor bases and government engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ja4refugees
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ja4refugees
• Facebookfacebook.com/ja4refugees
• Instagraminstagram.com/ja4refugees
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/japan-association-for-refugees

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Japan Association for Refugees