Support for Ukrainian refugees from Japanese churches
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Japanese government announced that they would be accepting refugees from Ukraine. At the time the original article was published, there were over 1,500 Ukrainian refugees residing in Japan. They mostly reside in large cities such as Tokyo and Yokohama. Oasis, a general incorporated foundation developed by JECA (Japan Evangelical Church Association) and Hongōdai Christ Church, supports Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Japan through the help of the humanitarian organization Hunger Zero, which performs aid work in Poland. Christian Shimbun interviewed Samuel Tsukii, an assistant pastor at Hongōdai Christ Church, who worked in Poland as volunteer staff for Hunger Zero and acted as a bridge between the refugees and Oasis. They also interviewed three Ukrainian women who currently take refuge in Japan.
Tsukii first went to Poland as an aid worker at the end of March 2022. He returned to Japan briefly after three weeks, but then went back to Poland for another two months. During that time, Hunger Zero set up the “Japan Desk,” an information help desk for refugees seeking shelter in Japan. Tsukii worked as an adviser at the help desk. “Currently 15 Ukrainians have sought refuge in Japan through Hunger Zero,” he says. Churches and organizations that responded to Oasis’ and Hunger Zero’s requests have become guarantors to refugees, and many more refugees are preparing to apply for Japanese visas. Oasis, itself a guarantor, provides consultation and support for the refugees in preparing them for life in Japan. “Some refugees do not want the Protestant faith pushed on them, but we still accept them and build personal relationships with them, serving them in Christ’s love,” says Tsukii.
Christian Shimbun interviewed three Ukrainians including Katerina Furutova and Yana Lavrishko. Yana is from Donetsk, currently a very dangerous place to live. Yana and her family first sought refuge in an area three hours outside of Kyiv. However that eventually also became dangerous, so they fled abroad. All three of the women shared that they chose Japan because they believed it to be safe and the people to be kind. Katerina, who is from Odesa, initially fled with her family to Bulgaria. But eventually she didn’t feel safe there either due to the prevalence of pro-Russian media in the country, so she decided to come to Japan.
“Yokohama looks like what Odesa might look like in the future,” says Katerina. On the other hand, all three have also been astonished with the amount of paperwork that has to be done. Unlike Japan, in Ukraine, ID documents, passports, and vaccine certificates can all be taken care of over the phone without having to go to a government office.
Katerina says she wishes to build a life in Japan and is studying Japanese in order to do so. She hopes to be reunited with her family in Ukraine one day. Yana says that even though she likes Japan, she would like to return to her home when it is safe to do so.
Hunger Zero and Oasis are currently seeking churches and organizations that would be willing to become a guarantors for refugees. Tsukii says, “The need is still great, so get in touch if you are interested.” You can contact Oasis at info@oasis-smile.jp or 045-894-3500.
From Christian Shimbun, July 31, 2022
Translated by Grace Koshino
Photo left to right: Katerina, Kristina Korobka, Yana, and Tsukii