In late March, members of Japan’s Kurdish community gathered in Akigase Park, located just outside Tokyo, to celebrate Newroz, their New Year festival. Newroz, meaning “New Day,” marks the start of spring and is a time of renewal for many Kurdish people. The event, which took place on March 23, 2025, attracted not only Kurds but also local Japanese supporters, with vibrant displays of culture, food, and dance.
People wearing traditional Kurdish attire danced to lively music, holding hands in tight circles. Children played nearby, joining the fun as parents and elders enjoyed the festival. The air was filled with the delicious scent of kebabs, and various stalls offered Kurdish crafts, embroidery, and even books on the Kurdish community in Japan. It was a joyful celebration of cultural heritage and unity. However, underlying this festive atmosphere was a growing tension.
Not far from the dance circles, some notices were posted around the venue. They advised attendees not to share photos on social media, a reminder to protect their identities. Police officers were seen standing on the outskirts of the event, monitoring the situation. This cautionary tone was not without reason.
The celebration took a tense turn when a man, later identified as Yusuke Kawai, appeared at the event. Kawai, a controversial city councillor from Toda, Saitama Prefecture, draped in the Japanese national flag, interrupted the festivities. He shouted, “Cancel Newroz,” calling the celebration a “terrorist event that should be suspended.” Kawai, known for his anti-Kurdish views, is one of the many figures who have gained notoriety for spreading hate against Kurds, particularly online, since 2023.
His appearance threatened to escalate the situation, reminiscent of the previous year’s Newroz celebration. In 2024, clashes had erupted between Kurds and their detractors, highlighting the deep-seated hostility toward the Kurdish community in Japan. The community, estimated to number around 2,000 people in Japan, often faces unwarranted suspicion and prejudice.
This time, however, the response from the crowd was swift. Sections of the audience, predominantly Japanese, quickly formed a barrier between Kawai and the revelers. They held up banners denouncing discrimination, effectively pushing Kawai away. The confrontation soon became chaotic, with police intervening to separate the opposing sides. Kawai was escorted through parking lots and led into a dead-end area, far from the lively festival.
Despite the tension, the situation eventually calmed down. Kawai and his supporters, surrounded by police, left the area after a prolonged standoff. However, the atmosphere remained charged. As the dust settled, one anti-hate protestor spoke to Kyodo News, stating that the issue was not just one for the Kurdish community to handle but a “Japanese problem.”
This protestor, a woman in her 30s from Kawaguchi, spoke anonymously, hiding behind a cat mask. She had previously been the target of online abuse for protesting Kawai’s appearance. However, she felt compelled to act as she realized that many of her neighbors had begun to buy into the hate being spread. Her stance was part of a wider movement gaining momentum in Japan since late 2024.
In the city of Kawaguchi and its neighboring areas, an anti-hate group has been holding “stand-ins” outside Warabi Station. These protests, though small, have drawn attention to the growing discrimination against foreign communities, particularly the Kurds. Around ten individuals typically attend each stand-in, traveling from various parts of Japan to participate. One participant, a man in his 40s from Yokohama, explained that the protests were not driven by pity for the Kurds but by a desire to stop hate from spreading.
“This isn’t just about Kurds. The targets change, but the people spreading hate are the same,” he said. “We cannot allow this to continue.”
In addition to grassroots efforts, local initiatives have sought to support Kurdish residents, long before the hate became a public issue. Tatsuhiro and Madoka Nukui, who run a nonprofit called Heval (meaning “friend” in Kurdish), are among those working to integrate the Kurdish community. Since 2020, the Nukuis have organized volunteer-led Japanese language classes for Kurdish children and adults in the area near Warabi Station.
Despite the increasing hostility, the Nukuis remain hopeful. They noted that before the wave of anti-Kurdish sentiment gained traction in 2023, only a few locals had volunteered to support their cause. Now, Heval receives a steady stream of volunteers willing to help Kurdish families integrate into Japanese society. However, the organization has also been targeted. It has received over 120 pieces of hate mail since May 2023, mostly from outside Saitama Prefecture.
One older Kurdish man, who fled Turkey to escape political persecution, shared his perspective on the matter. Speaking through a translation app, he said, “People with hearts filled with hate are cowards. I have known real fear. They do not scare me.”
The legal community in Japan has also stepped in to protect the Kurdish people. In a significant move, a group of 83 lawyers has filed a lawsuit seeking damages from a male resident of Kanagawa Prefecture. This individual had frequently spread anti-Kurdish hate, accusing Kurdish organizations of ties to terrorism. The lawyers are aiming for a legal precedent that would set an example for the rest of the country.
Yasuko Moroka, a Tokyo-based lawyer, commented on the importance of the case, stating, “We hope it will encourage municipal governments to introduce local ordinances against discrimination.” The legal battle is scheduled to begin in April 2025, with the lawyers aiming to send a strong message against hate in Japan.
Despite the challenges and tensions, the Newroz celebration in 2025 was a success. Mehmet Colak, a Kurdish community leader, expressed optimism, saying, “People like that will always show up. But this year, we could still enjoy the festival, and we welcomed about twice as many Japanese people. I hope we can do it again next year.”
In the face of adversity, the Kurdish community in Japan continues to celebrate their culture and push back against the discrimination they face. Their ongoing efforts highlight the importance of unity, both within their own community and with their Japanese allies.
