Xenophobic note warning Malaysian teacher to ‘leave Japan’ draws outrage and support

Photos posted to social media by Malaysian teacher Banden Tong shows the xenophobic note that he said had been taped to his front door and car. -- Photo: Threads / banden_tong vis SCMP

TOKYO/KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian English teacher living in Yokohama has gone viral in Japan after sharing photos of a hate-filled message taped to his front door and car, sparking both outrage and an outpouring of support amid growing concern over anti-foreigner sentiment in the country.

Written in Japanese and signed “Yokohama City Conservative Faction”, the flier read: “To foreigners, please leave Japan. You are not welcome here. Japan doesn’t need immigrants. Japanese taxes are not paid for you. Go back to your country.”