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View all search resultsIndonesian workers in Japan face growing stigma after viral incidents
Members of the Indonesian martial arts organization Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate (PSHT) in Japan have recently sparked attention online for parading in large formations while wearing matching black uniforms and displaying organizational flags in prominent public areas without prior permission.
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Office workers make their way from the Shinjuku Station on May 16 as they commute to work in central Tokyo. Japan's economy contracted 0.2 percent in the three months to March, registering the first quarterly drop in a year, according to cabinet office data released on May 16. (AFP/Richard A. Brooks)
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ndonesian migrant workers in Japan are grappling with rising negative stigma, following viral incidents involving a small subset of the Indonesian community that have drawn criticism from the Japanese public.
Members of the Indonesian martial arts organization Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate (PSHT) in Japan have recently sparked attention online for parading in large formations while wearing matching black uniforms and displaying organizational flags in prominent public areas without prior permission.
The group’s actions triggered backlash on social media, with Japanese users commenting critically on the behavior of some Indonesians in their country. Meanwhile, Indonesians living in Japan have voiced concern over the broader impact these actions have had on the diaspora’s public image.
“I’ve been in Japan since 1992, and back then, these kinds of incidents simply didn’t exist,” said Surya Darma, a 57-year-old Indonesian working for a private company in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, on Saturday.
Surya added, alongside the parades, recent crimes involving Indonesian nationals, including robbery and drug offenses, have led to increased scrutiny from locals.
“When I tried to rent an apartment recently, I was asked questions like ‘Why are you moving?’ or ‘How long have you been in Japan?’ in a tone that felt accusatory,” he said. “That didn’t happen three years ago.”
In response to the controversy, the Indonesian Embassy in Japan summoned PSHT representatives in late June to issue a public apology. The group clarified that the incidents in question happened nearly three years ago but promised to seek permits from local authorities before organizing any future events.
