To The Advocates for Human Rights, Investigative Journalism, Legal Authority and Media, 

We are writing to bring attention to a serious case involving a Japanese national who has been seeking assistance while abroad for several years but has not received meaningful help or resolution from the responsible authorities.

You may be familiar with a case reported in 2025, in which a Japanese woman was killed by her husband in Hungary. She had asked for help from the Japanese Consulate and the police, but no action was taken. We are facing a similar situation, and we would like to share this case with you.

"https://unseen-japan.com/hungary-japanese-woman-murdered-dv/"

We would like to share this case to show that this kind of neglect by a consulate does not happen only in Hungary. That is why we hope you can help share this story, so similar incidents can be prevented and no more victims will have to suffer.

In our case, it is about a Japanese man who has been trapped in the Middle East against his will. His situation can be described as: “Japanese Man Trapped in the Middle East While the Japanese Consulate in Dubai, the police, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Tokyo ignore his pleas for help.”

The most alarming part is that this situation has been going on for more than ten years.

From what we understand, the police in Dubai were willing to help him. However, they were instructed by the Japanese Consulate in Dubai to stop their investigation. Because of this, no proper action has been taken, and our friend remains in a very difficult and unsafe situation.

We would like to share a summary of this case with you. We are also willing to provide more detailed information so that you can fully understand what is happening and the urgency of this matter.

Short Story:
We are writing to request a human rights review regarding a case involving a Japanese national who has been subject to prolonged consular inaction by the Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai, despite repeated requests in handling a case involving a Japanese national, Mr. Tachibana, who's life remains at risk.

Summary of the Issue:
For over two (2) years, repeated requests for assistance and intervention have been submitted to the Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai and relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Despite continuous follow-ups, the responses received have been limited to general acknowledgments and repeated instructions to “wait,” with no clear action, resolution, or timeline provided.

Background of the Case:
Mr. Tachibana is not involved in any criminal activity and has no record of wrongdoing. He is a victim of a serious incident in which he was deceived, robbed, and deprived of his money and personal belongings, which have not been recovered. This situation has left him in a vulnerable condition requiring timely consular assistance.

Escalating Risk and Human Impact:
The urgency of this case is further compounded by the current instability and security risks in the Middle East, including ongoing conflict conditions involving missile and drone activity in parts of the region.

In addition, this case has had severe and irreversible human consequences for Mr. Tachibana and his family. His father passed away approximately two years ago without being able to reunite with his son after nearly two decades of separation, despite ongoing requests for assistance during that period.

Mr. Tachibana’s mother, who is elderly and fragile in Japan, has also repeatedly appealed for assistance in an attempt to reconnect with her son and seek support. Despite her situation and repeated requests, no meaningful assistance or urgent intervention was provided.

Instead of helping the grieving mother, the consulate staff said that her son, Mr. Tachibana, was “mentally unstable.” This was said to her while she was already grieving and asking for help. The statement was made without any medical assessment, examination, or proper support given to Mr. Tachibana. These circumstances collectively raise serious concerns regarding the adequacy, sensitivity, and timeliness of the consular response.

Concern Regarding Consular Response:
It has been observed that other Japanese nationals in urgent situations appear to receive timely assistance. In contrast, Mr. Tachibana’s case has remained unresolved for an extended period. This raises concerns regarding consistency, prioritization, and adequacy of consular support.

Timeline (Summary):

Note: The email communication below was handled by Mr. Tachibana’s friend on his behalf, as Mr. Tachibana’s email account was hacked during that time and has remained compromised since then. This communication includes back-and-forth correspondence with the Japanese Consulate in Dubai and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA).

The Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai also specifically requested that Mr. Tachibana’s friend communicate with them on his behalf and promised that Mr. Tachibana's friend would be protected. However, no effective assistance was provided, and Mr. Tachibana has remained in a vulnerable and unsafe situation.

January 9, 2020:
Initial request for assistance submitted to the Japanese Consulate in Dubai by email. (Prior to this, Mr. Tachibana had already been in contact with the consulate in person and by phone for several months.)

January 10 – November 5, 2020:
Multiple follow-ups sent through email and other communication channels, including phone calls.

November 6, 2020:
Last email response received from the Japanese Consulate in Dubai during this period.

November 7, 2020 – July 2024:
There has been no meaningful response or action from the Japanese Consulate in Dubai, despite his continued need for assistance. The consulate in Dubai even told Mr. Tachibana not to visit the consulate again and not to ask for any help from them or from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

July 10, 2024:
The Japanese Consulate in Dubai suddenly sent an email after approximately four years of inactivity, requesting information about Mr. Tachibana’s whereabouts, stating they had received an inquiry regarding him.

October 2024:
Direct calls were made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) in Tokyo requesting assistance, as the consulate still had not taken action despite having all necessary information.

February 18, 2025:
Last response received from the Japanese Consulate in Dubai once again.

August 21, 2025:
According to MOFA Tokyo, the Minister had given approval (“green light”) for the Japanese Consulate in Dubai to urgently assist Mr. Tachibana. However, no concrete action followed, and the instruction remained only to “wait.”

August 2025 - April 17, 2026 (Present):
Continuous follow-ups are being made through email and phone calls to MOFA Tokyo. However, there is still no resolution or action taken, other than repeated instructions to “just wait.”

Supporting Documentation:
Comprehensive documentation has been maintained throughout this period, including email correspondence, records of follow-ups, and a detailed timeline of all communications with the Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

These materials are available and may be provided to support a formal review or investigation, and can be submitted to relevant legal, governmental, and international bodies if further escalation becomes necessary.

Grounds for Complaint
This situation may constitute:

1. Prolonged administrative inaction despite repeated notification
2. Failure to provide adequate and timely assistance to a Japanese national abroad
3. Continued exposure to risk due to lack of intervention
4. Possible inconsistency in the provision of consular support

Request for Action
In light of the above, I respectfully request:

1. A formal review and investigation into the handling of this case by the Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai
2. A written explanation for the prolonged delay and lack of action
3. Immediate steps to ensure the safety and protection of Mr. Tachibana
4. Clarification of the criteria and standards used in prioritizing consular assistance
5. A clear timeline for resolution and designated point of accountability

This complaint is submitted in good faith, with the primary objective of ensuring the safety and protection of Mr. Tachibana, and to seek appropriate accountability where necessary.

We are not making a general accusation against the Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. We fully recognize and respect the important work of many dedicated staff within these institutions.

However, we are requesting a fair review of this specific case to understand what happened and to identify any individual or procedural issues that may have contributed to the prolonged inaction. Our intention is to ensure accountability, improve handling of similar cases in the future, and uphold the integrity and reputation of the Government of Japan.

P.s

We also ask that you consider the human impact of this situation. Mr. Tachibana’s elderly mother in Japan is currently going through severe emotional distress. She is grieving the loss of her husband, with whom she shared many decades of life, and at the same time she is living in constant fear and uncertainty about her son, who remains in a very difficult situation in the Middle East.

Despite her repeated efforts to seek help—through complaints and requests made to the Japanese Consulate in Dubai and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo—she has not yet received a clear resolution or effective assistance regarding her son’s case. As a result, she continues to live every day with deep worry about whether her son will be able to safely return to Japan.
 
We do not want a repeated tragedy where his mother is unable to see him again before it is too late. His father was never able to see him before he passed away, and we do not want this to happen again. This is one of our deepest concerns and reasons for urgently seeking help. 

Sincerely,
Karylle
On behalf of Mr. Tachibana