Japan has become the first country in Asia to allow the permanent resettlement of refugees, opening its doors to several families from Myanmar.

So far only five Asian countries – China, Cambodia, the Philippines, East Timor and Japan – have signed the UN Refugee Convention.

The UN High Commission for Refugees says there were nearly nine million refugees around the world last year, with more than a quarter of them in the Asia-Pacific.

This year Japan has opened its doors to several families from Myanmar, but settling into the country has its difficulties.

Al Jazeera’s Steve Chao reports from Tokyo.