Kitakyushu City Targeted with Hate After False Claims About School Lunches
Kitakyushu, Japan – The city of Kitakyushu is grappling with a surge of harassment and misinformation following false claims circulating online that it was prioritizing “Muslim lunches” over customary Japanese meals for schoolchildren. The unfounded allegations sparked a wave of complaints, including threatening messages directed at school staff and city officials, disrupting daily operations and exposing a growing undercurrent of anti-Muslim sentiment in Japan.
The controversy began in September 2024, when local media reported that some schools in Kitakyushu had begun offering halal meal options to accommodate a small number of Muslim students. This initiative,mirroring similar efforts in other Japanese cities like Ibaraki,was quickly distorted online,with social media posts falsely asserting that the city was eliminating or reducing standard lunches to cater exclusively to Muslim dietary needs. These claims, amplified by right-wing groups and individuals, led to a flood of complaints to the city government and schools, many containing abusive language and threats. The Mainichi Shimbun reported that the city was actively combating the spread of misinformation, but the damage had already been done.
Japan’s increasing, though still relatively small, foreign population - currently around 3.6% – is prompting a national conversation about inclusivity and cultural accommodation. While cities like Kitakyushu and Ibaraki are attempting to address the dietary needs of their diverse student bodies, including offering halal and considering vegan options, these efforts are encountering resistance from those who fear a dilution of Japanese culture. The Kitakyushu case highlights the vulnerability of these initiatives to manipulation and the potential for online disinformation to fuel real-world animosity.
The Sakai Elementary School in Osaka, such as, successfully introduced halal school lunches in September 2025, with 23 foreign students experiencing the meals for the first time. Ten-year-old Fatima Yussuf, a fourth grader from Pakistan, expressed her satisfaction, stating, ”My first school lunch was flavorful.I was happy to eat together with everyone.” This contrasts sharply with the unfriendly environment created in Kitakyushu.
The incident underscores the challenges Japan faces in navigating religious and dietary diversity, and the willingness of some to exploit anxieties surrounding immigration to sow division. City officials in Kitakyushu are working to clarify the facts and restore calm, but the long-term impact on the city’s efforts to foster inclusivity remains uncertain.
Sources:
* “Kitakyushu city spreads misinformation to Muslim school lunch” → city floods with complaints, disrupting work – https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250923/k00/00m/040/203000c
* Muslim children also eat together halal school meals in two towns of Ibaraki – https://mainichi.jp/articles/20240908/k00/00m/040/029000c