The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, urged Japan on Monday to process refugee applications more swiftly and to make its refugee policies more transparent.

While recognizing an improvement in Japan's efforts to accept refugees, Ogata said she expects Tokyo to play an even greater role in accepting refugees.

Ogata expressed her appreciation of Japan's decision, announced Friday, to disburse $44 million, saying that disbursement of such a large amount at one time is an encouragement to her office's activities. She reiterated her willingness to serve a third term as UNHCR because she sees new challenges ahead on refugees.