Japan Immigration News

For some immigrants in Japan, alternatives to detention bring release, but not freedom

Release Date: 2026-04-29
Media: Cronkite News
Summary: A feature article from Tokyo examines Japan’s “kanri sochi” supervisory release system, an alternative to immigration detention for undocumented migrants who cannot easily be deported. The story centers on Daisuke Sugawara, a bakery owner in Ibaraki who volunteers as a supervisor for 10 immigrants. Inspired after learning about harsh detention conditions during the COVID-19 era, Sugawara now regularly visits detention centers, helps detainees contact families, arrange paperwork, secure housing, and apply for temporary release. Supervisors receive no payment and assume significant responsibility, including reporting illegal activity to immigration authorities.

One migrant under his supervision, “Akira,” a Chinese national who overstayed his visa after business failure in the 1990s, spent two years in detention because China would not reissue his passport without proof of identity. He describes Sugawara as an “angel,” but says the system is deeply restrictive and dependent on finding willing Japanese supervisors — something many detainees cannot do. Supervisory release must be renewed every one to three months and can be revoked at any time.

The article highlights severe restrictions faced by migrants under kanri sochi. They cannot freely register addresses, limiting access to public healthcare and other services. Travel outside their prefecture requires immigration permission, and employment is generally prohibited. Although a special work permit exists, approval is extremely rare: only 4 out of 38 applications were approved nationwide in 2024. Lawyers argue the system effectively reproduces many of the hardships of detention while creating the appearance of reform.

The report also compares kanri sochi with the older “karihōmen” provisional release system, which still applies to many more migrants. A Colombian refugee called “Carlos,” who has lived in Japan for over 30 years, describes how repeated refugee rejections and tightening immigration rules have left him in constant fear of deportation. He cannot work legally or travel freely and says the system creates “psychological torture” by making survival increasingly difficult.

According to the article, critics argue Japan should instead impose limits on detention periods and strengthen judicial oversight. Immigration lawyers say current policies prioritize deportation and control over human rights protections, leaving migrants dependent on volunteers like Sugawara simply to survive.
Tags: Detainees Rights

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