Indonesian workers in Japan face growing stigma after viral incidents

Locals and foreign tourists alike crowd the streets to watch dancing and a drum performance as they take part in the Shibuya Bon Odori Festival, a popular summer festival put on by districts and cities across the country, in the Shibuya district of central Tokyo on August 2, 2025. Japanese have commented critically on social media about the behaviour of some Indonesians in their country.- Jiji Press/AFP

JAKARTA: Indonesian 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 organisation Persaudaraan Setia Hati Terate (PSHT) in Japan have recently sparked attention online for parading in large formations while wearing matching black uniforms and displaying organisational flags in prominent public areas without prior permission.