Chapter 4
Japan's Diplomacy Open to the Public
Section 2 Supporting Japanese Nationals Overseas
1 Risks and Safety of Japanese Nationals Overseas
(1) Incidents and Accidents in 2024 and Responses to them
As of 2024, approximately 13.0 million(1) Japanese nationals traveled overseas over the course of the year, and as of October that year approximately 1.29 million Japanese nationals live abroad. Protecting the lives of Japanese nationals traveling and residing abroad, as well as promoting their interests, is one of the most important missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
There had been no Japanese victim of terrorism incidents since 2020; however, in April 2024 one Japanese national was injured in a terrorist attack in Karachi, Pakistan. 2024 was another year in which a large number of terrorist attacks occurred in various regions. The main terrorism incidents included a bombing in Kerman, Iran (January), a mass shooting in Moscow, Russia (March), a bombing near the international airport in Karachi, Pakistan (October), and a mass shooting in Tel Aviv, Israel (October). Moreover, terrorism incidents occurred frequently in the Middle East, such as in Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Afghanistan, as well as in Pakistan in Southwest Asia. Many incidents also occurred in Africa, such as in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Mozambique.
In recent years, Islamic extremists have expanded their scope of activities around the globe, meaning that terrorist attacks have also been occurring in Europe, North America, and Asia, where many Japanese nationals travel and reside. There is a persistent and significant threat of terrorism in Western countries, characterized by a high incidence of attacks perpetrated by: homegrown terrorists radicalized online or through other means; lone offenders with limited or no discernible organizational links; and attacks targeting soft targets, i.e., locations with large numbers of civilians. In North America and Europe, violent acts by far-left and far-right radicals, such as hate crimes motivated by animosity toward a particular race or ethnic group, have also been intensifying in frequency.
Incidents in which Japanese nationals fell victim to crimes (including indiscriminate harm incidents), traffic accidents, and mountain-climbing accidents continued to occur in many locations around the world in 2024, to which MOFA provided support.
Natural disasters also occurred around the world with great damage in such cases as the earthquake off the eastern coast of Taiwan (April), as well as typhoons, hurricanes, heavy rains, and wildfires in different regions.
After the public security rapidly deteriorated in Haiti, in the Caribbean, the Government of Japan cooperated with the Government of France in supporting Japanese nationals to leave the country (March). Large-scale riots broke out in New Caledonia, a territory of France in the Pacific, for which the Government of Japan accordingly raised the risk level, and, in cooperation with the Governments of Australia and France, supported Japanese nationals to leave New Caledonia (May). When the exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in the Middle East, intensified, the Government of Japan raised the risk levels for Israel and Lebanon, supporting Japanese nationals to leave Lebanon using a Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) aircraft and government-chartered vessels (October).
In addition, whenever necessary depending on the regional situation, MOFA issued overseas travel safety information related to countries and regions where particular caution is considered necessary for traveling and residing.
Whenever necessary, MOFA issues overseas travel safety information on infectious diseases in countries and regions where health and medical caution is required, in order to communicate the current outbreak situation and prevention measures, and highlight matters worth paying attention to when travelling and staying in the affected regions.
In 2024, a new clade of Mpox began spreading, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in central Africa. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), MOFA issued Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious Diseases for seven countries in Africa including DRC. Furthermore, as dengue fever, one of the mosquito-borne diseases has spread, particularly in tropical regions, MOFA has issued Region-wide Infectious Disease Safety Information for the entire world, highlighting matters worth paying attention to when travelling and staying abroad.
(1) Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
(2) Safety Measures for Japanese Nationals Overseas
The number of Japanese nationals receiving support or protection in 2022 from Japanese diplomatic missions overseas and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association was a total of 16,895, and the number of cases of support or protection was 14,454. Within these overall numbers, Japanese embassies and consulates general worldwide provided attentive assistance in many ways as well as disseminating information about entry/exit limitations and public safety.
The safety of Japanese nationals is threatened constantly in various regions throughout the world. Those traveling abroad must be prepared for multiple risks such as terrorist attacks and infectious disease, and it is more difficult than ever to respond if Japanese nationals encounter a terrorist attack or another incident or accident while traveling overseas. Therefore, there is an increasing need to take every possible overseas safety measure.
Based on this perspective, MOFA works to enhance the safety awareness of Japanese nationals and promote its safety measures by disseminating information widely to the general public. Specifically, MOFA issues the latest safety information for each country and region on its Overseas Safety website. Furthermore, MOFA sends emails on the latest safety information of travel destinations to those Japanese nationals residing or traveling abroad who have submitted Overseas Residential Registration or registered overseas travel registration service (Tabi-Regi).
MOFA is actively engaged in PR activities in order to promote registration on Tabi-Regi and submission of Overseas Residential Registration, such as distributing information cards at all passport centers and releasing promotional videos on the official MOFA YouTube channel. MOFA provides a Tabi-Regi linkage interface to travel industry operators, allowing them to batch register their passengers traveling abroad, and encourages companies to use it. MOFA set up a booth at Tourism Expo Japan in Tokyo in September, providing information and raising attention about the safety of Japanese nationals residing or traveling abroad. As of February 2025, the number of travelers who had registered on Tabi-Regi since its launch in July 2014 exceeded 10.7 million, reflecting initiatives for enhancing the system's convenience and activities that aim at promoting registration.
The actors ISHIDA Hikari and MORITAKA Ai introduce Tabi-Regi (for people traveling overseas for less than three months) and Overseas Residential Registration (for people living overseas for three months or more)
Previously, Overseas Residential Registration was only possible after arriving in the country of residence and confirming the overseas address. However, from May 1, 2024, registration became possible up to 90 days before departure from Japan, even if the overseas address was not yet confirmed. This change enabled receiving overseas travel safety information as well as useful information about living abroad provided by diplomatic missions overseas before departing Japan.
MOFA strives to enhance the knowledge and capability of the Japanese people concerning overseas safety measures and crisis management through seminars and training. In 2024, MOFA held virtual and in-person seminars on safety measures (11 times at diplomatic missions overseas and 5 times within Japan). Furthermore, Consular Affairs Bureau staff delivered lectures at seminars held throughout Japan by domestic organizations, associations, and other groups. In addition, MOFA also provided regular overseas safety information through voice platforms.
Furthermore, MOFA held “Public-Private Joint Practical Training for Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Kidnapping Measures,” both within Japan and abroad, with the participation of Japanese businesses and organizations. The Joint Practical Training outside Japan had been on hold since September 2019 due to COVID-19, but restarted in 2023 after an approximately 3.5 year hiatus, and in January 2024 it was held in Türkiye. These initiatives are useful in preventing harm from regular crimes and terrorism, but also in improving response capabilities in the event of encountering such an incident. Furthermore, the public and private sectors are cooperating to advance safety measures even overseas, and the diplomatic missions in each country host regular meetings of Security Consultation and Liaison Committees. Diplomatic missions overseas are continuing to share information, exchange opinions, and bolster collaboration in preparation for emergencies with local Japanese nationals in their respective countries.
Following the terrorist attack in Dhaka in July 2016, MOFA developed and has utilized in educational activities “Golgo 13's Security Guidelines for Japanese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Abroad,” with the aim of raising the awareness of SMEs, etc. who have limited access to information on safety. Moreover, MOFA has continued to use the LINE messaging platform, through “Messages from Duke Togo” by the medium of “Golgo 13's Security Guidelines for Japanese SMEs Abroad,” to distribute educational messages about security measures and useful knowledge for people to protect themselves.
MOFA has also created a leaflet titled “Overseas Travel Safety Measures” for Japanese traveling abroad. It compiles precautions to avoid a terrorist attack and kidnapping, responses in case of involvement, and emergency contact information. The leaflet was distributed to company representatives etc.
Overseas safety measures flyer (front)
Overseas safety measures flyer (back)
Many educational institutions do not have a sufficient base of knowledge and experience regarding safety measures and emergency response procedures. Due to this, for Japanese students heading abroad to study, MOFA officials deliver lectures and provide safety measures courses, including online sessions, at educational institutions such as universities. MOFA also requested cooperation to increase the submission of Overseas Residential Registration and the rate of registration on Tabi-Regi. MOFA will continue to strive to help institutions to raise students' safety awareness and build in-house crisis management structures. MOFA is moving ahead with efforts to connect government agencies with educational institutions, overseas study agencies, and students studying abroad, by launching an automatic Tabi-Regi registration system with some overseas study institutions.