Most Kurds in Japan are from shepherding villages in Southeast Turkey and reside in the Warabi and Kawaguchi areas of Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Warabi, especially, has been nicknamed "Warabistan"[2][3] by those who are interested in Kurdish people, culture and issues.
Some Kurdish people arrived in Japan in order to request refugee status; citing human rights abuses in Turkey and Iraq. Nonetheless, so far none have been successful in their application due to failing to meet refugee status requirements.[4][5] While many obtain visas through marriage with a Japanese citizen, most have obtained "Special Permission to Stay" (在留特別許可 Zairyū Tokubetsu Kyoka) visas, which must be renewed every three months while their refugee application or appeal is being reviewed. A documentary directed by Masaru Nomoto (野本 大) entitled Backdrop Kurdistan (バックドロップ・クルディスタン) documented the legal struggles of one Kurdish family (Kazankıran family: Japanese: カザンキラン, Kazankiran)[6] from Kahramanmaraş Province.
In 2015, a clash took place outside the Turkish embassy in Tokyo between Kurds and Turks in Japan during early voting for the Turkish general election. Japanese and Kurdish sources claimed the clash began when the Turks assaulted the Kurds after a Kurdish party flag was shown at the embassy.[7][8]
Famous Kurds in Japanedit
Vakkas Çolak
Owner of Mesopotamia, a Kurdish restaurant located in Tokyo.
Serves as the President and Secretary of the Kurdish Friendship Association of Japan.
Holds the position of Secretary General at the Japan Kurdish Culture Association.
He is married to a non-Japanese woman with permanent resident status.
On November 29, 2023, both he and the Japan Kurdish Culture Association had their assets in Turkey frozen by the Turkish government due to their association with the terrorist organization PKK/KCK[9]
Mehmet Çolak
Vakkas’s brother who had been detained in an immigration facility.
Featured in the documentary film “Tokyo Kurds.”
Ramazan Dursun
Former provisional releasee, currently on a special permission to stay in Japan with his brother as of 2023.[10]
Appeared alongside his uncle Mehmet in the documentary film “Tokyo Kurds.”
In 2023, he testified before the House of Councillors Legal Affairs Committee regarding the revision of the Immigration Control Act.[11]
Ozan Uçar
Also featured in “Tokyo Kurds.”
Arrived in Japan at the age of 6 with his father Yusuf, a supporter of the Kurdish armed forces.[12]
Has lived as an illegal immigrant since then.
Mehmet Yücel
President of Rojava Corporation, a demolition company in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture.
Represents the Japan Kurdish Cultural Association, whose assets in Turkey were frozen by the Turkish government on November 29, 2023, due to his affiliation with a terrorist organization.
Deniz Yengin
Former long-term detainee.
Japanese/Japan resident supportersedit
Hidenobu Matsuzawa (松澤秀延)
Former Executive Director of the “Knowing Kurds Society,” which was established in Japan in 2003 to learn about and promote Kurdish culture and history.
Currently the President of the voluntary organization “Together with Kurds in Japan (HEVAL).” This organization operates independently from the Kurdish People’s Association and focuses on local activities.
Akinobu Kinoshita (木下顕伸)
Holds the position of Representative Director at the Japan Kurdish Friendship Association.
Mitsuhiro Kimura (木村三浩)
Serves as an Advisor for the Japan Kurdish Exchange Liaison Association.
Also known as a representative of Issui-kai, a right-wing Pan-Asianism group.
Represents the demonstration “Stop Constitutional Revision and War March” organized by the Revolutionary Communist League, National Committee, which is designated as "ultra-left vandalism group" by Japanese police.[13]
Kaori Shu (周香織)
Secretary of the "Association to Support Kurdish Refugee M-san."
Il-sung Nakamura (中村一成)
Former reporter for the Mainichi Shimbun and freelance journalist.
Tsuyoshi Ohashi (大橋毅)
Secretary General of Kurdish Refugee Lawyers Association.
^Tsumura, Tadashi (3 September 2015). "Japan's Kurds often in limbo, despite significant community". from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015 – via Japan Times Online.
^"Turks and Kurds clash in Japan over Turkey elections". www.aljazeera.com. from the original on 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
^"Article expired". The Japan Times. 10 May 2013. from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
^"HAKKINDA TÜRKİYE'DE BULUNAN MALVARLIĞININ DONDURULMASI KARARI ALINAN GERÇEK VE TÜZEL KİŞİLER" (PDF). T.C. CUMHURBAŞKANLIĞI RESMÎ GAZETE. Turkish Government. (PDF) from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
^"祖国で投獄、拷問なら日本国内での服役を選ぶ...!? 「入管法改正」に抗議する在留外国人たちの切実な事情". 5 June 2023. from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
^"入管法改正「家族がバラバラに」 25歳のクルド人男性、国会で訴え". 25 May 2023. from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
^"全力で中国侵略戦争阻む 大行進 翼賛国会開会に戦闘宣言". 24 January 2022. from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
External linksedit
Newroz New Year celebration in Japan
January 01, 1970
kurds, japan, japanese, 在日クルド人, zainichi, kurudo, kurdish, kurdên, japonyayê, refers, kurds, residing, japan, kurdên, japonyayê, 在日クルド人, zainichi, kurudo, total, population2, regions, with, significant, populationssouthern, saitama, warabi, kawaguchi, language. Kurds in Japan Japanese 在日クルド人 Zainichi Kurudo jin Kurdish Kurden Japonyaye refers to Kurds residing in Japan Kurds in JapanKurden Japonyaye 在日クルド人 Zainichi Kurudo jin Total population2 000 1 Regions with significant populationsSouthern Saitama Warabi Kawaguchi LanguagesKurdish Japanese Contents 1 Legal status 2 Famous Kurds in Japan 3 Japanese Japan resident supporters 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLegal status editMost Kurds in Japan are from shepherding villages in Southeast Turkey and reside in the Warabi and Kawaguchi areas of Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo Warabi especially has been nicknamed Warabistan 2 3 by those who are interested in Kurdish people culture and issues Some Kurdish people arrived in Japan in order to request refugee status citing human rights abuses in Turkey and Iraq Nonetheless so far none have been successful in their application due to failing to meet refugee status requirements 4 5 While many obtain visas through marriage with a Japanese citizen most have obtained Special Permission to Stay 在留特別許可 Zairyu Tokubetsu Kyoka visas which must be renewed every three months while their refugee application or appeal is being reviewed A documentary directed by Masaru Nomoto 野本 大 entitled Backdrop Kurdistan バックドロップ クルディスタン documented the legal struggles of one Kurdish family Kazankiran family Japanese カザンキラン Kazankiran 6 from Kahramanmaras Province In 2015 a clash took place outside the Turkish embassy in Tokyo between Kurds and Turks in Japan during early voting for the Turkish general election Japanese and Kurdish sources claimed the clash began when the Turks assaulted the Kurds after a Kurdish party flag was shown at the embassy 7 8 Famous Kurds in Japan editVakkas Colak Owner of Mesopotamia a Kurdish restaurant located in Tokyo Serves as the President and Secretary of the Kurdish Friendship Association of Japan Holds the position of Secretary General at the Japan Kurdish Culture Association Also works as a lecturer of Kurdish language at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies He is married to a non Japanese woman with permanent resident status On November 29 2023 both he and the Japan Kurdish Culture Association had their assets in Turkey frozen by the Turkish government due to their association with the terrorist organization PKK KCK 9 Mehmet Colak Vakkas s brother who had been detained in an immigration facility Featured in the documentary film Tokyo Kurds Ramazan Dursun Former provisional releasee currently on a special permission to stay in Japan with his brother as of 2023 10 Appeared alongside his uncle Mehmet in the documentary film Tokyo Kurds In 2023 he testified before the House of Councillors Legal Affairs Committee regarding the revision of the Immigration Control Act 11 Ozan Ucar Also featured in Tokyo Kurds Arrived in Japan at the age of 6 with his father Yusuf a supporter of the Kurdish armed forces 12 Has lived as an illegal immigrant since then Mehmet Yucel President of Rojava Corporation a demolition company in Kawaguchi Saitama Prefecture Represents the Japan Kurdish Cultural Association whose assets in Turkey were frozen by the Turkish government on November 29 2023 due to his affiliation with a terrorist organization Deniz Yengin Former long term detainee Japanese Japan resident supporters editHidenobu Matsuzawa 松澤秀延 Former Executive Director of the Knowing Kurds Society which was established in Japan in 2003 to learn about and promote Kurdish culture and history Previously served as a Japan Self Defense Force officer and worked as a landscape gardener Tatsuo Nukui 温井立央 Currently the President of the voluntary organization Together with Kurds in Japan HEVAL This organization operates independently from the Kurdish People s Association and focuses on local activities Akinobu Kinoshita 木下顕伸 Holds the position of Representative Director at the Japan Kurdish Friendship Association Mitsuhiro Kimura 木村三浩 Serves as an Advisor for the Japan Kurdish Exchange Liaison Association Also known as a representative of Issui kai a right wing Pan Asianism group Gen Nakatani 中谷元 Currently the Chairman of the Japan Kurdish Parliamentary Friendship Association A member of the House of Representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party Former Japan Self Defense Forces officer Additionally he advises the Prime Minister on international human rights issues and chairs the Japan Israel Parliamentary Friendship League Masamune Wada 和田政宗 Holds the position of Secretary General within the Japan Kurdish Parliamentary Friendship Association A member of the House of Councilors of the Liberal Democratic Party Yoshitaka Shindo 新藤義孝 Vice President of the Japan Kurdish Parliamentary Friendship Association Represents the House of Representatives from Saitama s 2nd election district Kawaguchi city Currently serves as the minister in charge of economic revival as of 2024 Sangmun Naofumi Fukushima 福島尚文 Co chairman of the Kurdish Refugee Association with Deniz san Also a board member of the Cultural Center Arirang Former reporter for Kyodo News Represents the demonstration Stop Constitutional Revision and War March organized by the Revolutionary Communist League National Committee which is designated as ultra left vandalism group by Japanese police 13 Kaori Shu 周香織 Secretary of the Association to Support Kurdish Refugee M san Il sung Nakamura 中村一成 Former reporter for the Mainichi Shimbun and freelance journalist Tsuyoshi Ohashi 大橋毅 Secretary General of Kurdish Refugee Lawyers Association Attorney at Law Taiga Ishikawa 石川大我 Member of the House of Councilors of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Mizuho Fukushima 福島瑞穂 Representative of the Social Democratic Party See also editKurdish diaspora Immigration to Japan Turks in JapanReferences edit 埼玉で暮らす在日クルド人 ワラビスタン のいま Yahoo ニュース Archived from the original on 2016 06 17 Retrieved 2016 06 01 Chie Matsumoto Kurds live lives interrupted Archived 2011 08 07 at the Wayback Machine Kurdish Media original Asahi Shimbun April 30 ワラビスタン 日本のクルド人 Warabistan Nihon no Kurudo jin Asahi Shimbun December 15 2005 in Japanese Economist Retrieved 24 February 2016 Tsumura Tadashi 3 September 2015 Japan s Kurds often in limbo despite significant community Archived from the original on 7 November 2015 Retrieved 26 October 2015 via Japan Times Online Backdrop Kurdistan Archived 2010 03 03 at the Wayback Machine goo Eiga in Japanese Turks and Kurds clash in Japan over Turkey elections www aljazeera com Archived from the original on 2020 10 13 Retrieved 2015 10 26 Article expired The Japan Times 10 May 2013 Archived from the original on 7 August 2017 Retrieved 9 January 2018 HAKKINDA TURKIYE DE BULUNAN MALVARLIGININ DONDURULMASI KARARI ALINAN GERCEK VE TUZEL KISILER PDF T C CUMHURBASKANLIGI RESMI GAZETE Turkish Government Archived PDF from the original on 29 November 2023 Retrieved 13 March 2024 祖国で投獄 拷問なら日本国内での服役を選ぶ 入管法改正 に抗議する在留外国人たちの切実な事情 5 June 2023 Archived from the original on 11 March 2024 Retrieved 13 March 2024 入管法改正 家族がバラバラに 25歳のクルド人男性 国会で訴え 25 May 2023 Archived from the original on 11 March 2024 Retrieved 13 March 2024 捕まってでも苦境伝える 国なき民 在日クルドが映画に 難民認定なし 移動や就労制限 Archived from the original on 2022 12 29 全力で中国侵略戦争阻む 大行進 翼賛国会開会に戦闘宣言 24 January 2022 Archived from the original on 19 May 2022 Retrieved 13 March 2024 External links editNewroz New Year celebration in Japan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kurds in Japan amp oldid 1220879841, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
