Ethnic Kurds in Japan face rising online hate and discrimination

KAWAGUCHI, Japan,— For many ethnic Kurds living in Japan, a simple smartphone camera can trigger a wave of anxiety, serving as a reminder of the growing anti-Kurdish sentiment spreading on social media, according to a report by Kyodo News.

In a modest apartment in eastern Japan, a Kurdish family shares a lively but hesitant conversation in Japanese and Turkish with visiting local supporters, using a smartphone translation app for assistance.

The atmosphere is warm, and smiles come easily—until a camera is pointed in their direction. Suddenly, unease replaces their comfort, a response shaped by daily fears of being filmed or photographed without their consent.

The cities of Kawaguchi and Warabi, located in southern Saitama Prefecture, have become home to a significant Kurdish population. Though precise figures are unavailable, estimates suggest between 2,000 and 3,000 Kurds reside in Japan, many without stable legal status.

The community has grown since the 1990s, with many working in demolition, a labor-intensive field often avoided by Japanese workers.

For years, Kurds lived in relative peace in Japan. However, since 2023, hate speech targeting them has surged on Japanese social media. Posts frequently accuse Kurdish residents of criminal activity and claim they are “fake refugees” exploiting Japan’s strict immigration policies. These narratives, fueled by misinformation, have left many Kurds feeling increasingly unwelcome, Kyodo News reported.

Despite allegations linking Kurds to crime, official data tells a different story. According to the Saitama prefectural police, Vietnamese nationals accounted for the highest number of arrests in 2023 at 417, followed by Chinese nationals at 234. Turkish citizens, a group that likely includes many Kurds, made up only 69 arrests, representing just 5.9% of cases.

“There’s a lot of talk online about Kurdish crime, but I haven’t seen a rise in offenses committed specifically by them,” a police official said.

Mamo, a 35-year-old Kurdish man who owns a real estate and demolition business in Kawaguchi, reflected on the situation at Happy Kebab, a popular Kurdish restaurant. A permanent resident married to a Japanese woman, Mamo came to Japan in the 2000s after his family lost their land.

“Hate speech is just part of life now. We’re used to it,” he told Kyodo News. His restaurant, known for its authentic Kurdish dishes, has also been targeted by anti-Kurdish demonstrators.

Kurds, often described as the world’s largest stateless people, reside across Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The Turkish government has long pursued policies aimed at suppressing their language and culture, prompting many Kurds to seek refuge abroad.

Japan, however, has been reluctant to grant asylum to Kurdish applicants, likely due to diplomatic ties with Turkey.

Online, anti-Kurdish rhetoric frequently focuses on demolition trucks used by Kurdish workers, referring to them as illegal “Kurd cars.” Photos of overloaded trucks are often shared as supposed evidence of lawlessness.

“Sure, some people don’t follow proper procedures, but not everyone is like that,” Mamo said. “And sometimes, the pictures aren’t even of Kurdish trucks.”

While adults in the Kurdish community have learned to endure discrimination, parents worry about its impact on their children. To provide an outlet, the community launched FC Kurd, a soccer team for Kurdish children, in December 2024. The team includes about 60 players, ranging from elementary to high school age.

Metin, a former professional soccer player in Turkey and a former deputy mayor in his hometown, now serves as the team’s coach. He fled to Japan two years ago after being convicted of speaking Kurdish in a public setting.

“We want to show the kids they can focus on something positive despite the hate,” he said during a practice session in a park near Kawaguchi.

However, the team has not been immune to online hostility.

“Recently, someone took a picture of a bigger boy and posted it with a caption saying, ‘Kurds are fat,’” Metin said. “Even today, someone was taking photos without permission.”

In early February, FC Kurd played its first official match against a team that included Rohingya players, another stateless group facing persecution. The Kurdish team lost 9-2, but organizers see it as a step forward.

Vakkas Colak, head of the Japan Kurdish Cultural Association, has been advocating for better relations between Kurds and Japanese society since 2013. He himself has been the subject of online disinformation, with some falsely claiming he said, “Japanese people should die.”

“Some people spread hate to gain approval or drive engagement. Certain media outlets contribute to this by portraying Kurds in a negative light,” he said in an interview in Tokyo.

Colak believes the problem extends beyond the Kurdish community.

“The government needs to implement laws to combat discrimination and misinformation. This isn’t just about foreigners—it’s a Japanese societal issue,” he said.

(With files from Kyodo News)