The government will first allow in people who have fled Ukraine and have relatives or acquaintances in Japan. But the door will also open to those who do not, given the severe humanitarian situation, Kishida said.
"Japan will allow in people who have fled Ukraine to third countries as we wish to show our solidarity with the people of Ukraine when the world is at a critical juncture," Kishida told reporters after speaking by phone with German and Polish leaders.
"The Ukrainian situation is tense, and refugees are growing in large numbers. We will make preparations to cope with this situation as soon as possible," he said.
While easing its border controls introduced amid the coronavirus pandemic, Japan has still maintained a cap on the number of people arriving from overseas, including Japanese nationals, at 5,000 a day.
Refugees from Ukraine will not count toward the daily limit, Kishida said.
Japan has pledged humanitarian assistance worth $100 million to Ukraine via international organizations.
