Kurdish New Year Festival Held in Saitama

Mar 22, 2026 | News On Japan

SAITAMA, Mar 22, 2026 (News On Japan) - A festival celebrating the Kurdish New Year, known as "Newroz," was held in Saitama City on March 23rd, drawing around 1,500 participants, although tensions briefly escalated as individuals calling for the exclusion of foreigners gathered at the venue.

The event took place at Akigase Park in Sakura Ward, where attendees dressed in vibrant traditional attire and danced to Kurdish music. One participant said, "This is Kurdish clothing. It's very enjoyable."

Newroz, which means "new day" in Kurdish, is considered one of the most important celebrations for Kurdish people, marking the arrival of spring and renewal.

However, the atmosphere became tense when city assembly members from Toda, known for advocating the exclusion of foreigners, appeared at the venue, leading to a confrontation between them and festival participants. According to reports, one of the assembly members was struck during the altercation.

In recent years, discrimination against Kurds living in Japan, including instances of hate speech, has been on the rise. Wakkas Chorak, who organized the festival, expressed hope for coexistence, saying that he wishes for Japanese and Kurdish people to live together peacefully.

Source: TBS

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