Overview of the Incidents

In November 2025, a series of disturbing incidents occurred in Ebetsu City, Hokkaido. Used car dealerships operated by Pakistani residents became targets of repeated attacks, including rocket fireworks being shot at businesses and men wielding baseball bats and knives in acts of intimidation. Security camera footage captured Japanese men arriving in multiple vehicles and systematically firing rocket fireworks at the shops.

These were not isolated incidents. According to victims, such attacks continued over several months. The affected Pakistani business owners filed police reports and submitted security camera footage as evidence.

Background: Illegal Construction and Spread of Misinformation

The attacks stem from a complex situation that began in September 2025, when the Ebetsu City Council addressed illegal construction in designated agricultural zones. The city confirmed 76 illegal structures, including a mosque (Islamic prayer facility) built by Pakistani residents.

However, a crucial fact often gets overlooked: of those 76 illegal structures, only 20% or less were related to foreigners, including Pakistanis. The vast majority were built by Japanese citizens.

Despite this reality, misinformation spread online claiming that "all illegal buildings were constructed by Pakistanis." The situation deteriorated further when YouTubers visited the area and posted videos containing factual inaccuracies, fueling anti-Pakistani sentiment.

Provocative Videos by Content Creators

Multiple YouTubers visited mosques and workplaces, posting videos claiming they were "told to leave because they weren't Japanese," "taken to the mosque and surrounded by Pakistanis," or "chased by Pakistani men."

However, investigative journalism revealed many of these claims to be false or misleading.

One YouTuber admitted during interviews that he had asked to see inside the mosque, saying "I'm interested in Islam. May I look inside?" The Pakistani residents kindly agreed to show him around. Yet his video claimed he was "taken to the mosque" against his will.

In another case, a YouTuber trespassed on private property and filmed without permission. When Pakistani workers called the police, the YouTuber fled. Pakistani residents then pursued the vehicle to record its license plate for the police report. The subsequent video, however, portrayed this as "being chased by Pakistanis."

Pakistani residents explain: "We simply asked them not to film without permission, but it was twisted into claims that we told Japanese people to leave."

The Pakistani Community in Ebetsu

Ebetsu City currently has approximately 224 Pakistani residents, roughly 2.4 times the number five years earlier. They comprise over 20% of the city's foreign resident population.

Most are engaged in used car dismantling and export businesses. Ebetsu's strategic location near major automobile auction venues makes it ideal for the used car trade, attracting Pakistani entrepreneurs.

Critically, these residents hold proper work visas and salvage dealer licenses, operating entirely within legal frameworks. Many have lived in Japan for over a decade, establishing deep roots in the community.

Efforts Toward Community Integration

Before these attacks, the Pakistani community actively worked to integrate into local society. Many diligently studied Japanese, enrolled their children in local schools where they made friends, and participated in community events.

One Pakistani resident expressed: "We want to eliminate the perception that we're scary or unapproachable. We want to make it easy for anyone to talk to us." Indeed, until last year, community members willingly participated in local media interviews and organized cultural exchange events.

The recent wave of misleading videos and physical attacks has dramatically changed this situation. Many Pakistani residents now refuse media interviews, fearing that their words will be taken out of context, spread online, and invite further harassment and violence.

Expert Warnings

Professor Takashi Miyairi of Hokkai Gakuen University, an expert on foreign workers and multicultural coexistence, warns of dangerous consequences:

"When people are attacked with fireworks and explosives, distrust toward the broader community grows. If Pakistanis become isolated and withdraw inward, that's the most dangerous outcome. If they can live without any interest in Japanese customs and lifestyle, minor encounters could escalate into conflicts. Daily mutual interaction and points of contact are most crucial."

Future Challenges

This case starkly illustrates how misinformation can cause real-world harm. What began as legitimate concerns about illegal construction became distorted through factual manipulation and ethnic generalization, ultimately escalating into violence.

As Japan faces declining birth rates and an aging population, foreign workers will continue to increase. Ebetsu's mayor acknowledges: "National policy means foreign residents will keep growing in number. We need to create an environment where everyone can live together safely and peacefully."

Distorted, cherry-picked clips have cast a long shadow over the community. The distance from a single video online to real fireworks fired at a storefront turned out to be shorter than anyone assumed. In your country, have you seen online misinformation spill over into real violence or discrimination?