-----

In this presentation, Ayako Sahara will show the ways in which Anti-Kurdish racism in Japan has emerged and how it reflects recent Japanese racism and anti-refugee sentiments. Kurds living in Japan, who reside in Kawaguchi city, Saitama Prefecture, have become the target of hate in Japan due to some newspaper articles and social media reports attacking their legitimacy of their refugee status, and some right-wing organizations and activists have been claiming they are a social evil. Japanese popular culture has maintained the myth of Japan as a single-race nation especially after the defeat of World War II and collapse of the Japanese empire. Through education, younger generation generally believes this myth and has normalized their racism against so-called “foreigners.” While xenophobia in Japan generally has targeted Chinese and Koreans with special resident status to stay in Japan, anti-Kurdish racism in Japan is a relatively new phenomenon. Therefore, this study will illuminate the background and history of xenophobia and racism in Japan, as well as the recent context of anti-refugee sentiments through anti-Kurdish discrimination.

-----