A kindergarten in Kanazawa, Japan, came under fire after photos surfaced showing 5-year-old children being taken to a mosque and made to perform Islamic prayers.
The boys and girls entered the mosque through separate doors. The children were taught about Allah and Ramadan and… pic.twitter.com/ybE45okfUh
— Alpha Wolf 🐺 (@Crazyunfill94) September 15, 2026
A kindergarten in Kanazawa, Japan, came under fire after photos surfaced showing 5-year-old children being taken to a mosque and made to perform Islamic prayers.
The boys and girls entered the mosque through separate doors. The children were taught about Allah and Ramadan and were told why Muslims fast and pray. After that, all the children were made to face Mecca and pray together in Arabic. At the end, the children turned their heads to the right and left.
They were told that they were “greeting the angels watching over them.”
The school had posted the entire event and photos on its website and Instagram. When the incident surfaced on social media, it sparked debate and outrage across Japan.
This also concerned the children’s parents, as their 5-year-old children had been made to perform Islamic prayers, repeat Arabic words, and were told that angels were watching over them. Amid the growing controversy, the principal apologized and said that this would not happen again.
Kurds in Japan
- Easy entry via visa exemption: Turkish nationals can enter Japan visa-free for short stays (up to 90 days) under a bilateral agreement. Airfares are relatively cheap, making Japan a more affordable option than visa-required destinations like the US or Canada. Many arrive on tourist stays and then overstay or apply for asylum.
- Migration starting in the 1990s: Early arrivals (following some Iranian Kurds in the 1980s) fled conflict, persecution, forced village evacuations, and economic hardship in southeastern Turkey amid the Turkish military–PKK conflict and assimilation policies. Japan’s image as a peaceful country also appealed to some. Chain migration through family and tribal networks (e.g., from specific areas/villages) then built the community in affordable areas near Tokyo that already had some foreign workers and industry.
- Economic opportunity and labor demand: Many came (or stayed) primarily for work rather than pure refugee claims. Japan faces labor shortages due to its aging population and low birth rate, especially in tough “3K” jobs (hard, dirty, dangerous) that many Japanese avoid. Kurds have become prominent in the demolition and construction sectors in the Saitama area—some run companies, and the industry relies on them in places. Officials, including the Turkish ambassador, have noted that economic motivations predominate for many.
- Asylum process dynamics: A significant portion apply for refugee status citing political issues or persecution in Turkey. Japan’s acceptance rate is extremely low overall (and only one Kurd has ever been formally recognized as a refugee, after appeals). Many end up in provisional/temporary statuses that allow them to remain while cases drag on (or after overstaying), creating a long-term presence without stable residency. Policy changes (e.g., easier deportation after repeated applications) have increased scrutiny.
In short, a combination of easy visa-free access for Turkish passport holders, early settlement and networks in one affordable Tokyo-adjacent area, labor needs in specific industries, and a restrictive-but-slow asylum system has sustained a small, concentrated community since the 1990s. Recent growth and visibility have drawn disproportionate attention amid broader Japanese debates on immigration and demographics.