In recent years, the presence of Kurdish people in Japan has been drawing attention.
According to the Ministry of Justice, as of June 2023, there were 6,070 Turkish nationals residing in Japan (Source: Shukan Bunshun Online).
It is estimated that some of them are of Kurdish origin.
Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Kurds are said to live in communities in cities like Warabi and Kawaguchi in Saitama Prefecture (Source: Wikipedia - Kurds in Japan).
Amid debates about social friction and the type of support provided, there have been reports suggesting that some Kurdish individuals, supposedly staying in Japan as refugees, own luxury foreign cars or were involved in criminal incidents but were not prosecuted.
Internationally, it is known that the United States has supported Kurdish armed forces in the Middle East (e.g., support for the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG), which has raised concerns about possible links with the PKK.
This article will unravel these questions and rumors, delving into the influx of Kurdish people, the U.S. connection, and incidents occurring in Japan to shed light on the reality behind the scenes.
{tocify} $title={Table of Contents}Who Are the Kurds?
The Kurds are an ethnic group widely spread across the Middle East, particularly in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
They are considered the world's largest stateless ethnic group, with complex historical reasons behind their lack of a nation.
The Region's Ethnic Complexity
The areas where Kurds live, especially near the borders of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, have long been a crossroads of various ethnic groups.
Arabs, Persians, Turks, Armenians, and Assyrians have coexisted and clashed in these lands for centuries, earning it the nickname "the mosaic of ethnicities."
The Kurds speak Kurdish, a language of the Indo-European family, and have preserved their unique culture and history. However, they live divided across several nations, without a state of their own.
This has often led to oppression by dominant ethnic groups and national governments, with suppression of their language and culture.
Despite this, they have used rich cultural expressions—such as music, dance, and poetry—as a way to preserve their identity.
The Kurdish issue has evolved beyond a mere ethnic conflict, becoming a complex political and human rights matter that crosses national borders.
Through this lesser-known "Kurdish story," we hope to provide readers a glimpse into this intricate situation.
Drawing the Borders
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, the Middle East was carved into spheres of influence by Western powers.
The 1920 Treaty of Sèvres included provisions for an autonomous Kurdish state and allowed for referendums in certain areas to consider autonomy.
However, after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's successful independence movement in Turkey, the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne omitted any mention of a Kurdish state. Since then, Kurds have lived divided among Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
This redrawing of borders prioritized geopolitical interests of Western powers and ignored the will of the local populations—particularly the Kurds.
With little to no opportunity for referendums or ethnic consultation, the Kurds were left stateless and scattered, forced to live divided lives.
This legacy continues to pose a serious challenge symbolizing the clash between international politics and ethnic self-determination.
Conflicts with National Governments
The four main countries where Kurds reside—Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria—have all taken a hardline stance against Kurdish autonomy and independence.
In Turkey, since the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) began its armed struggle in 1984, clashes with the government have resulted in tens of thousands of casualties.
The Turkish government considers the PKK a terrorist organization and has intensified military crackdowns, along with long-term cultural suppression policies such as banning Kurdish-language education, renaming locations, and prohibiting its public use. Though some restrictions have eased in recent years, tensions remain high.
In Iran, Kurdish anti-government movements face severe repression, including arrests and executions of political activists.
Freedom of speech and culture is significantly restricted, with bans on Kurdish-language education and press freedom.
In Iraq, under Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath regime, the Anfal campaign of the 1990s resulted in the genocide of an estimated 180,000 Kurds.
However, the 2005 Iraqi constitution granted legal recognition to the Kurdistan Region, establishing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which now exercises autonomy—making it an exception among the four nations.
In Syria, the Assad regime long denied Kurds citizenship and restricted their rights to land ownership and job opportunities.
Since the 2011 civil war, the Kurdish militia YPG has expanded its influence and established a de facto autonomous region.
These strained relations between Kurds and national governments go far beyond ethnic friction, encompassing military, cultural, and political conflicts that persist today.
Amid these tensions, the Kurds have voiced their existence and rights through both armed struggle and international political efforts.
Allegations of U.S. Support for the PKK
Among Kurdish groups, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has garnered significant international attention.
The PKK is known as a militant organization engaged in armed conflict within Turkey and is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and others.
However, under specific circumstances, such as the Syrian conflict, there are claims that the U.S. has supported groups linked to the PKK, utilizing them as a ground force against the extremist group ISIS.
Why the U.S. Offers Support
As the Syrian civil war intensified, the U.S. faced the growing threat of ISIS and recognized the limitations of airstrikes alone. It sought reliable local ground forces.
This led to the spotlight falling on the Kurdish-led militia YPG (People's Protection Units) based in northern Syria.
The YPG demonstrated high combat effectiveness through trained fighters and in-depth knowledge of the region, particularly in recapturing cities and defending strategic points.
Their resolute resistance during the 2014 Siege of Kobani marked a turning point, earning support from the U.S. and international allies.
The coalition provided the YPG with weapons, military training, and air support, conducting joint operations.
However, the YPG is widely believed to have ideological and personnel ties to the PKK, which the Turkish government classifies as a terrorist group. Consequently, U.S. support for the YPG has been viewed as indirect military aid to the PKK.
Although the U.S. officially distinguishes the YPG from the PKK, Turkey vehemently opposes this stance.
This strategy, while effective in fighting ISIS and stabilizing parts of Syria in the short term, has led to diplomatic friction with Turkey and mistrust within NATO in the long run.
For the U.S., this situation represents a difficult dilemma between counterterrorism and maintaining alliances.
Deteriorating U.S.-Turkey Relations
The Turkish government considers the PKK a grave threat and enforces strict crackdowns both domestically and abroad.
However, U.S. support for Kurdish militias (YPG) in Syria has severely strained bilateral relations.
The conflict extended beyond the military sphere into economics and international diplomacy.
For instance, in protest against U.S. policies, Turkey purchased the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system.
This move violated NATO protocols, prompting the U.S. to exclude Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet development program and impose economic sanctions.
Turkey has since distanced itself from the U.S. and NATO while strengthening ties with other regions, including the Middle East, Africa, and former Soviet states.
Since the 2020s, Turkey has pursued an independent foreign policy, engaging in military cooperation with Azerbaijan and interventions in Libya.
This disagreement over Kurdish support has not only eroded U.S.-Turkey trust but also affected NATO cohesion and regional stability in the Middle East.
Public distrust in Turkey has risen, with media and public opinion increasingly expressing anti-American sentiment under the belief that the U.S. is aiding their enemy.
As a result, political, military, and economic relations between the two nations have continued to chill.
Regional Power Dynamics
The geopolitical consequences of U.S. support for Kurdish forces extend beyond tensions with Turkey.
Iran, which is home to millions of Kurdish residents, particularly in the western province of Kurdistan, has seen several uprisings and anti-government protests over the years.
Fearing that these movements may link with Kurdish forces in neighboring countries and destabilize the region, Iran strongly opposes U.S. support for Kurdish groups, viewing it as a threat of national fragmentation.
Iran has taken a firm stance against the PKK and its affiliates, reinforcing military surveillance in Kurdish regions.
Meanwhile, Russia, through its military involvement in the Syrian civil war since 2015, has backed the Assad regime and occasionally interacted with Kurdish forces as a counterbalance to U.S. influence.
However, due to the complex relationship between Assad’s government and Kurdish militias, Russia has limited its support to strategic cooperation rather than full-fledged backing.
In this geopolitical landscape, Kurdish forces have had to carefully navigate between the interests of the U.S., Russia, and surrounding nations to seek autonomy.
Amid shifting alliances, the Kurds are emerging not merely as pawns of global powers, but as geopolitical players with growing influence in international politics.
In essence, the Kurdish issue is no longer just an ethnic struggle—it is a geopolitical flashpoint shaped by the intersecting strategies of major world powers and will likely remain a destabilizing factor in the Middle East.
The Reality of the Kurdish Community in Japan
Amid global political turmoil, the outflow of Kurdish people from their home countries has accelerated, leading to a rise in migration and refugee arrivals in various countries, including Japan.
Due to Japan’s geographic and cultural distance from the Middle East, little is known about how Kurdish communities form and function within the country.
This section explores the background, daily lives, and interactions with society of Kurdish people living in Japan from a realistic perspective.
Background of Migration
Many Kurds in Japan originate from countries such as Turkey, Iran, and Syria, where they have faced political oppression, ethnic discrimination, and armed conflict.
In Turkey, some individuals claim they were detained or tortured without cause due to suspected ties to the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), leading them to flee out of fear of persecution.
In Iran’s northwest, Kurdish residents are reportedly subject to surveillance and discriminatory treatment, prompting some to seek refuge in Japan.
However, it is often difficult to define or prove "persecution," and many people come to Japan in search of better lives, education, and job opportunities without concrete evidence of political oppression.
Thus, the motivations and backgrounds of Kurdish migrants to Japan vary, making refugee screening a complex process.
The Japanese government has a very strict refugee recognition policy. In 2022, only 202 out of 3,772 applications were approved, resulting in an acceptance rate of about 5.4% (Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan).
Most approved cases involved individuals from Afghanistan and Myanmar, with very few Kurdish applicants from Turkey being recognized.
As a result, many Kurds live under a temporary status called "provisional release," without formal recognition.
During provisional release, individuals are generally prohibited from working and are restricted from enrolling in national health insurance, making it difficult to afford medical care and leading to significant hardship in daily life.
Moreover, provisional release must be renewed every few months, requiring regular visits to immigration authorities.
This repeated process causes great psychological stress, as each visit carries the risk of receiving a deportation order. Many describe living in a constant state of anxiety.
These systemic issues highlight the gap between humanitarian ideals and the practical implementation of Japan’s refugee policies.
Economic Conditions and Rumors
During the refugee application process, employment is officially restricted, and sources of income are limited. Yet, in 2020, a video showing a person driving a Lamborghini in Warabi City, Saitama—allegedly a Kurdish refugee—spread on social media, igniting widespread debate.
The footage clashed with the general perception of refugees as impoverished, prompting online speculation about abuse of the support system or potential involvement in underground businesses.
The actual number of Kurds owning luxury vehicles is unknown, and there is no statistical data to verify how widespread this phenomenon may be.
However, if the reports are true, potential factors such as unclear funding sources, name lending, money laundering, or tax evasion cannot be entirely ruled out.
On the other hand, it is dangerous to make broad generalizations based solely on appearances.
Some individuals may work in the car sales industry and have access to luxury vehicles as part of their job. Others may purchase vehicles jointly with family or acquaintances, or legally acquire them after securing residency and succeeding in business.
Additionally, some of these luxury cars may be for display or business use rather than private ownership, so careful scrutiny is essential in assessing the truth behind such claims.
Background of Non-Prosecution Cases
Allegations of serious crimes such as sexual assault involving Kurdish individuals have drawn public attention through media reports and discussions on social media.
Even in cases where victims have come forward, prosecutions have sometimes not proceeded, causing public distrust due to a lack of transparency about the decisions.
There are various reasons behind such decisions not to prosecute.
For example, if a civil settlement is reached between the victim and the accused (where the accused apologizes or offers monetary compensation, and the victim withdraws their complaint), criminal prosecution may not proceed.
Other cases involve insufficient physical evidence, questionable credibility of testimonies, or the withdrawal of the complaint itself.
Additionally, the handling of refugee or foreign suspects in Japan may be influenced by considerations of international human rights or political sensitivities, which can indirectly affect prosecutorial decisions.
However, it’s important to note that such decisions are not necessarily unjust and often reflect careful legal procedures.
Rather than jumping to conclusions, a calm and objective view of both the facts and the legal context is essential.
Chapter 4: Case Studies and Areas of Concern
Several incidents involving Kurds in Japan have been reported, including:
- Violent altercations: Disputes primarily among Kurds, sometimes leading to arrests
- Sexual assault allegations: Cases where accusations were made but did not lead to prosecution
- Suspicious businesses: Concerns about opaque financial practices in auto sales or restaurant operations
What these cases share is a lack of clarity in the facts and outcomes.
For example, from the night of July 4 to early morning on July 5, 2023, a large-scale disturbance involving around 100 individuals—believed to be Kurdish—took place near Kawaguchi Municipal Medical Center in Saitama Prefecture.
Reports say that a crowd gathered late at night, leading to the dispatch of multiple ambulances and police officers, with emergency intake at the hospital temporarily suspended (Source: Wikipedia - Kawaguchi Kurdish Hospital Incident).
Details about the cause and responsibility remain unclear, and the full picture of the incident is still unknown.
Some media outlets highlighted the story, while social media spread posts labeling Kurds as "dangerous."
However, it's important to avoid stereotyping an entire group based on such fragmented information.
In reality, many Kurds live peacefully in Japanese communities, abiding by the law and local rules.
In recent years, more Kurdish individuals have been learning Japanese, attending school, and participating in local activities—demonstrating a genuine effort to build community ties.
Understanding each individual’s background and actions, rather than judging by rumor or bias, is key to building a harmonious society.
Discussion and Future Outlook
The growing Kurdish population in Japan can be attributed to ongoing instability in the Middle East, including the Syrian civil war and Kurdish oppression in Turkey.
Geopolitical interests of major powers like the United States have further complicated the Kurdish situation, ultimately encouraging more Kurds to flee abroad.
As tensions between Turkey and the PKK escalate, more ordinary Kurds may become victims of persecution, accelerating the refugee flow to countries like Japan.
Meanwhile, if Kurdish communities in Japan find economic success, it may create social friction due to the disparity between their achievements and the traditional image of refugees.
While activities such as luxury car ownership and involvement in businesses like restaurants or car dealerships draw attention, they have also raised concerns about financial transparency or misuse of systems.
To avoid fostering societal prejudice and misunderstanding, it's essential to improve transparency in the refugee recognition process and design systems that balance public safety with human rights protection.
Japan's refugee policies are now being scrutinized as part of the broader international human rights landscape.
Conclusion
The increasing presence of Kurds in Japan is rooted in both the complex Middle East dynamics and international factors such as alleged U.S. support for the PKK.
While some Kurds face allegations or suspicions, many also suffer from misunderstanding and prejudice.
To accurately understand the issue, we must continuously gather reliable information and avoid forming opinions based solely on surface-level reports or rumors.
In the years to come, immigration and refugee issues from the Middle East and Africa will attract greater attention.
Addressing these challenges requires, first, making refugee screening more transparent and implementing fair evaluation standards.
Second, language education and vocational training are essential to support immigrants and refugees in integrating into their communities.
Furthermore, national and local governments must collaborate to share information and reduce community anxiety while balancing security and human rights.
As globalization advances, how we welcome people in difficult circumstances—while maintaining social rules and order—will become a defining challenge for Japan’s future.
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