Mohammed Al-Masri is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, a researcher with Access Center for Human Rights, and has been working with refugee-led non-profits since 2014. Al-Masri holds a BA in English literature from Al-Baath University, Syria, and an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. His Ph.D. research project investigates the unusualness of Japan as a destination for Syrian refugees and migrants and explores their adaptation strategies, self-identification, naturalization motives, and future plans.