The Sankei Shimbun 
View from the front of Kawaguchi Station, Saitama Prefecture.
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) is facing backlash over a documentary on Kurdish residents in Japan that critics say unfairly portrayed media coverage and public concerns as hate speech.
Over the past several years, Kurdish immigrants have increasingly settled in parts of Saitama Prefecture, particularly in Kawaguchi and Warabi. Many initially entered Japan on short-term visas and later applied for refugee status. Japanese authorities have not officially recognized them as refugees, but have allowed them to remain under provisional release, a status that lets them live and work in Japan without full legal protections.
According to reporting by The Sankei Shimbun, this growing presence has raised tensions, especially following multiple incidents involving Kurdish individuals, including traffic disputes and public demonstrations. These incidents have added to a growing sense of unease among some local residents.
Loopholes in the Asylum Process
The Sankei Shimbun has also reported on concerns that Japan's refugee recognition system is being exploited, particularly in cases where applicants file repeated or strategic claims to extend their stay. In a series of articles, the paper has emphasized that while Japan must treat all foreign residents with fairness and human dignity, it also has a responsibility to maintain the rule of law and ensure public safety.
It is within this context that The Sankei Shimbun published its article titled "Kawaguchi Kurds Confirmed as 'Migrant Workers.'" The article highlights that many Kurdish residents are in Japan not due to persecution but for economic reasons. It was this article, which NHK used without permission, that a recent NHK documentary appeared to frame as a source of online hate. When it aired, it sparked backlash from other media and legal commentators alike.
Biased Coverage
The NHK ETV program "Fact and Fiction: Kurds in Kawaguchi," aired on April 5. However, NHK later pulled it from rebroadcast due to criticism of biased reporting. Freelance journalist Takaaki Ishii, who has covered the issue extensively and even published a book titled Saitama Kurds Crisis (Heart Publishing, 2024), revealed that NHK used four of his social media posts and images without notifying or interviewing him.
"NHK barely spoke to Kawaguchi residents or local officials who've raised this issue in council meetings," Ishii said in an interview with The Sankei Shimbun. "They only listened to Kurdish supporters and human rights lawyers to construct a one-sided narrative."
Of the seven "experts" interviewed in the program (excluding ordinary residents), three were known pro-Kurdish lawyers or activists who had previously spoken at an event hosted by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. Others were also supporters or liberal academics. Kurdish voices and their Japanese allies featured prominently, with the documentary repeatedly framing criticism of Kurds as discriminatory.
Narrative Spin and User Disclosure
Citing a spike in posts related to the Kurdish issue, the program identified November 2024 as the second-highest period of online activity. The narration noted, "Various events overlapped that month, and social media experienced another surge in activity." It then aired a screenshot of a Sankei Shimbun article from November 24, titled "Kawaguchi Kurds Confirmed as 'Migrant Workers,'" without directly citing the source.
With The Sankei Shimbun logo clearly visible on screen, the narration stated, "A newspaper ran a series of articles on Kurds. From there, the information spread widely." It implied that Sankei's coverage had triggered the spread of potentially inaccurate and hateful posts. Through selective editing, the program suggested that Sankei had fueled online hate, despite never reaching out to the newspaper for comment.
The program also featured posts from ordinary users on X (formerly Twitter). Although it partially blurred icons and account names, it left usernames beginning with "@" clearly visible. In several cases, these belonged to individuals who had simply posted critical remarks about the Kurdish issue, yet their handles were broadcast without any effort to conceal their identity.
Real Concerns or Just Fake News?
Adding to the controversy, NHK aired footage of Kurdish men holding up their residence cards. Two of the cards showed "Designated Activities" status — often referred to as a "refugee visa," though it is merely a provisional status for those in the application process. NHK failed to explain this key context, instead suggesting the men were being unfairly targeted.
The only segment that touched on refugee fraud involved a Turkish woman tearfully admitting she had falsely applied as a Kurd — a detail many critics saw as a token counterpoint.
Ishii, who was not credited or contacted, noted:
"The Kurdish issue is not complicated. It's about enforcing immigration laws and cracking down on illegal overstays and crimes. But NHK chose to tell a 'poor Kurds' story that fits the usual liberal media mold. It won't help solve anything."
He concluded:
"They didn't interview me because they were afraid the truth would undermine their narrative."
NHK acknowledged criticism of "biased reporting" at a press conference held by President Nobuo Inaba on April 16. Inaba explained that the rebroadcast had been postponed to conduct "further reporting." Nevertheless, critics argue that as a public broadcaster funded by taxpayer fees, NHK has an obligation to present all sides fairly and not sideline dissenting voices.
RELATED:
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- Gunkanjima Apology Sparks New Questions for NHK
(Read the related article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
