OSAKA - An anti-immigration rally in Osaka on September 30th descended into chaos as nationalist groups and Antifa counter-protesters clashed in the streets, with loud chants, heated exchanges, and occasional physical altercations captured on camera.
The event, marked by national flags and megaphones, quickly turned confrontational as demonstrators and counter-demonstrators accused each other of racism and violence, drawing the attention of police who struggled to maintain order.
Participants on the nationalist side argued their protest was aimed at the government’s immigration policy rather than at foreigners themselves, insisting that they welcomed foreigners but opposed what they described as uncontrolled entry without proper rules. "We love foreigners, but this demonstration is against the government, not against them," one man holding a flag said, while others used slogans such as "Japanese First," echoing similar populist rhetoric seen abroad. Some protesters, however, voiced openly xenophobic remarks, singling out Africans and Chinese as unwelcome.
Counter-protesters, identifying themselves as Antifa, rejected those claims, calling the rally racist and dangerous. "Discrimination kills, and hate speech cannot be tolerated," one participant said, as groups sought to drown out nationalist chants with chants of "racist out" and music from portable speakers. Others argued that immigration is tied to basic human rights and that opposing it on racial grounds threatens social cohesion in a diverse city like Osaka. "This is not about protecting Japan; this is harassment and hatred," one counter-demonstrator said, adding that their goal was to stop the spread of hate speech in public spaces.
The standoff escalated when protesters and counter-protesters came into direct contact, with accusations of assault exchanged on both sides. One man said he was struck while trying to block a camera, while others described being surrounded and hit by groups of opponents. Shouts of "violence is unacceptable" and "racists out of Japan" rang through the crowd, as police officers attempted to form lines to keep the groups apart. Tensions rose further as foreign residents and bystanders were caught in the confrontation, with some foreigners interviewed expressing both confusion and concern about Japan’s shifting atmosphere.
The rally underscored the growing polarization over immigration in Japan, where only 3 percent of the population is foreign but debates over demographics, labor shortages, and social policy are intensifying. Nationalists warned that higher immigration would bring crime and disorder, while counter-protesters stressed the importance of human rights and inclusion. Both sides predicted that confrontations of this kind are likely to increase.
Source: Interviewing Japan
