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Saitama Governor’s Shift in Kurdish Policy Highlights Tensions in Kawaguchi
A surprising policy reversal by Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono has brought renewed attention to tensions surrounding the Kurdish community in Kawaguchi City, where growing xenophobia has become a flashpoint for immigration debates in Japan.
“It isn’t good to leave things as they are,” Ono reportedly told close aides in spring 2025, signaling a shift in his approach. By August, the governor had formally requested that the Foreign Ministry revoke visa-free entry privileges for Turkish nationals, including ethnic Kurds.
The move came as a shock to many who knew Ono, a former diplomat with Middle East experience and Upper House lawmaker before his 2019 election as Saitama governor. Known for data-driven decision-making, his request appeared uncharacteristic to those familiar with his leadership style.
When pressed about his reasoning, Ono cited a 20% increase in complaints to the prefectural government about foreign residents, with 446 grievances filed in 2024. Many complaints alleged foreigners were “worsening security” in the area.
The governor acknowledged in an interview with The Asahi Shimbun that social media narratives about Kawaguchi’s foreign residents were somewhat “fictitious,” while adding that local “anxiety” remains a legitimate concern. “Turkish nationals are gathering and living here, and many of them have unstable social status,” he stated, though he conceded, “There isn’t any data suggesting that security has worsened.”
Kawaguchi City, home to approximately 600,000 residents and bordering Tokyo across the Arakawa River, has emerged as ground zero for Japan’s immigration debates. Foreign residents in the city have doubled over the past decade to about 48,000, with Turkish nationals—including Kurds—numbering 1,513 as of January last year. Chinese nationals make up the largest foreign community at more than half the total foreign population.
Local concerns have centered on cultural differences in everyday matters like garbage disposal and noise levels. In a 2025 opinion poll, 54.1% of Kawaguchi residents cited “poor public safety” as their primary complaint about the city—the highest proportion recorded in such surveys.
Crime statistics tell a more nuanced story. Of 1,181 people identified in criminal cases by Kawaguchi’s two police stations in 2024, 191 were foreigners, including 36 Turkish nationals. This translates to a crime rate of approximately 2.4% among Turkish nationals in Kawaguchi, compared to 0.2% for the overall city population.
The tensions took on new dimensions in July 2023, when seven Kurds were arrested in an attempted murder investigation—though none was ultimately indicted. The incident fueled online rhetoric about “kicking out the Kurds” and allegations of Kurdish criminal organizations, despite official crime statistics showing no significant increase despite the growing foreign population.
“Even people who have never seen Kurds say ‘I heard Kurds are insane,'” explained a lifelong Kawaguchi resident in his 40s, who frequently encounters misinformation about his hometown during business trips. “When I mention that I came from Kawaguchi, people say, ‘I heard there are about 100,000 Kurds living there’ or ‘You can’t walk around at night, right?'”
The Kurdish community, estimated at about 2,000 people in Kawaguchi and surrounding areas, has deep roots in Japan dating back to the 1990s. Many fled Turkey following government crackdowns after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party began its insurgency in 1984. Japan’s construction boom provided employment opportunities when the country relied heavily on foreign workers.
Many Kurds in Kawaguchi work in demolition, filling labor gaps left when Japanese contractors shifted to higher-paying reconstruction projects following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Some have established their own companies, gaining residency as business operators.
The community faces significant bureaucratic challenges. Many are on “provisional release” from immigration detention while awaiting decisions on refugee applications—applications that are almost universally rejected, according to legal representatives. The Kawaguchi government reports at least 600 Turkish nationals in this limbo status within the city.
“Although immigration control systems, such as refugee status determination, fall under the central government’s authority, the consequences are being shifted onto our city,” Kawaguchi Mayor Nobuo Okunoki has stated, repeatedly requesting expanded support from national authorities.
Meanwhile, Kurds in Kawaguchi report increasing discrimination, including teenagers being falsely accused of shoplifting in social media posts and business owners receiving harassing phone calls.
For many, Japan remains their only option. As one 50-year-old Kurdish demolition company owner who arrived three decades ago put it: “Japan is the only place left for me.”
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9 Comments
This situation highlights the delicate balance between public safety and protecting vulnerable minority groups. I hope the governor can find a way to address any security issues without unfairly targeting the Kurdish community in Saitama.
Changing visa policies based on unsubstantiated complaints seems like a knee-jerk reaction. I’d like to know more about the specific security concerns raised and whether they are supported by credible data. Balancing public safety with protecting vulnerable minority groups is a delicate challenge.
This is a troubling development. Revoking visa-free entry for Turkish nationals, including ethnic Kurds, smacks of discrimination. I wonder what the broader implications could be for foreign residents and Japan’s reputation on human rights issues.
It’s disappointing to see this kind of backlash against the Kurdish community in Saitama. Scapegoating immigrants and refugees rarely solves complex societal issues. I wonder what steps the local government could take to build more inclusive and harmonious communities.
This seems like a worrying shift in the governor’s stance, especially given his prior experience and reputation. I’m curious to learn more about the specific security issues raised and whether they justify such a dramatic policy change targeting the Kurdish population.
I’m concerned about the potential for this policy reversal to further marginalize the Kurdish community in Saitama. Restricting visa access could have serious consequences for residents, businesses, and community cohesion. I hope the governor carefully weighs all the implications before moving forward.
This is a concerning situation. While maintaining public safety is important, any policy changes targeting specific ethnic or national groups raise troubling questions about discrimination and xenophobia. I hope the governor carefully examines the facts and community perspectives before taking further action.
While I understand the governor’s desire to address public concerns, revoking visa-free entry for Turkish nationals, including Kurds, seems like an overly broad and potentially discriminatory approach. I hope the local government can find more targeted, evidence-based solutions that don’t unfairly single out specific communities.
While public safety is paramount, targeting specific ethnic groups based on unsubstantiated complaints is troubling. I hope the governor takes a measured, evidence-based approach and engages the Kurdish community to better understand their perspectives and concerns.